St. Vitonus of Verdun

Vitonus, also called Vanne, came to the pastoral office from monastic life. Butler’s short notice describes him as having borne the discipline of religious life from his youth before being chosen bishop of Verdun. He continued to serve his people with zeal through years of episcopal responsibility.

His remembrance later became associated with an important Benedictine reform. The congregation established in 1604 at the abbey of Saint-Vanne in Verdun took him as its patron. Together with the abbey of Moyenmoutier, dedicated to St. Hydulphus, that house gave the congregation its name.

Butler goes on to describe the close relationship between this reform and the French Congregation of St. Maur. The later monastic history should be distinguished from the bishop’s own lifetime. His significance in this notice lies both in the memory of his pastoral service and in the religious communities that subsequently placed themselves under his patronage.