Vigilius Of Trent
Vigilius Of Trent [1]
bishop, is mentioned by Gennadius in De Viris Illustribus, No. 37, as the writer of an article "In Laudem Martyrum," addressed to a certain Simplicianus, who can only have been the successor of Ambrose in the see of Milan. This assigns him to the 4th or 5th century, and proves conclusively that he could not have written the books against Eutyches. (See Vigilius Of Thapsus).
He lived probably not later than the reign of Honorius, for in his day the heathen party was still able to inflict gross indignities upon Christians. In Usuard, Acta, under June 26, it is stated that Vigilius studied at Athens and was compelled by the populace to become bishop of Trent. After a zealous administration of his office, he was stoned to death 3 a distant part of his diocese because he had caused a statue of Saturn to be destroyed. Stilicho was consul at the time, which fixes the date in A.D. 400 or 405. The letters of Vigilius to Simplician and Chrysostom are given in Ruinart, under May 29. Their superscription indicates that the missionary field of Vigilius was dependent on Milan as the Western metropolis of that day, and affords ground for the conclusion that he went out from Milan when he entered on that work; and the thought is not far to reach that a Church which could prosecute missionary labor on its own account was itself an independent Church. See Baronius, Annales, ann. 400, Nos. 2-18; Tillemont, Memoires, 11; Herzog, Real- Encyklop. s.v.
