Vedast

For the abbey, please see Abbey of St. Vaast

Saint Vedast or Vedastus, also known as Saint Vaast (in Flemish, Norman, and Picard) or Saint Waast (also in Picard and Walloon) and Saint Gaston in French,^[1] (died c. 540) was an early bishop in the Frankish realm.

At the beginning of the sixth century Saint Remigius, bishop of Reims, profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. He entrusted the diocese of Arras and diocese of Cambrai to Vedast, who had helped with the conversion of the Frankish king Clovis in 496 and was the teacher of Clovis after the victory of Tolbiac.

Career

Worked with Saint Remigius to convert the Franks. As a priest, he was an advisor to King Clovis. He was the First bishop of Arras, France (499AD) and letter Bishop of Cambrai, c.510. He is attributed to have miraculous healing of the blind leading to Vaast’s patronage against eye trouble.

Death and veneration

He died 539–540AD at Arras, France, of natural causes. On the night he died, the locals saw a luminous cloud ascend from his house, apparently carrying away Vaast’s soul.^[2] The Abbey of St. Vaast was later founded in his honour in Arras.

His feast is on 6 February.

Vedast was venerated throughout Belgium as well as England (from the 10th century), where he was known as Saint Foster. The spread of his cult was aided by the presence of Augustinians from Arras in England in the 12th century. Three ancient churches in England (in London (St Vedast Foster Lane), Norwich, and Tathwell) were dedicated to him.^[3]

Notes

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "Abbey of Saint Vaast"
• Saint Vaast of Arras at Saints.SQPN.com