Saint Etton

Who they were

Venerated in the diocese of Cambrai and especially in the Avesnois region of northern France, Saint Etton (also called Hetto, Ethi or Ettone) is remembered as a missionary bishop, hermit and pastor of the rural population in the second half of the seventh century, though reliable historical sources about him are very scarce; most of what is told about him, including a supposed Irish origin and a pilgrimage to Rome, comes from hagiographic accounts written centuries later.

According to tradition he exercised his episcopal ministry from the small settlement of Fuchau, today Dompierre-sur-Helpe, living simply among the rural population and also remembered as a hermit devoted to prayer. Legend credits him with healing a deaf-mute herdsman and with protecting cattle from disease. His relics were moved to the abbey of Liessies in 1555; some were saved during the French Revolution and are still kept in the parish church of Dompierre. His feast is kept on 10 July.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Missionary bishop and hermit venerated in the Cambrai region of northern France; feast kept 10 July.