St. Eutropius was an early Christian who was killed for trying to evangelize people in what is now southwestern France.

He was sent from the Church in Rome in the third century to accompany St. Denis in spreading the good news. Eutropius was declared bishop of Saintes, France, but the people there refused him and sent him away. He took up residence in a cave outside of the city, and would instruct in the faith anyone who visited him.

Among the people he converted was Eustella, the daughter of the Roman governor of that region. When her father discovered Eutropius had baptized her, he drove her from the household and ordered Eutropius killed. Eustella found Eutropius murdered in his cell, and that is where she buried him.

Eutropius is depicted in this stained glass window from the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, which shows his relics being carried in a procession. His relics rest there as well. Learn more about the reliquary chapel in Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart here.

St. Eutropius, you were ostracized and killed for preaching the good news—pray for us!