Servatius of Tongeren
Armenian saint and bishop of Maastricht (Netherlands)
Saint Servatius (Dutch: Sint Servaas; French: Saint Servais; Limburgish: Sintervaos; died 13 May 384) was bishop of Tongeren. Servatius is patron saint of the city of Maastricht and the towns of Schijndel and Grimbergen. His feast day is 13 May and he is one of the Ice Saints whose feast days fall in mid May.
History
A widely travelled diplomat and a determined opponent of Arianism, the presence of Servatius is recorded at several synods and church councils. In 343, Sarbatios - Greek texts rendering v as b - was present at the Council of Sardica (modern Sofia). In the debates, Servatius represented the Trinitarian view, which clashed with the Arian view of most Eastern bishops. According to Sulpicius Severus, Servatius again eloquently denounced Arianism at the Council of Rimini in 359.
When Athanasius, the leading opponent of Arianism, was exiled to Trier (in 336 or 343), he may have met with Servatius, because both men campaigned against Arian bishops and priests in the region.
According to a medieval legend, Servatius took part a Council of Cologne in 346, testifying that Euphrates, bishop of Cologne, "denied the divinity of Jesus Christ, this even happened in the presence of Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria". Euphrates was historically known as an opponent of Arianism and alongside Athanasius and Servatius took part in the Council of Sardica.
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