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'''Gaul''' was an important early center of [[Latin Christianity]] during [[late antiquity]] and the [[Merovingian period]].
By the middle of the 3rd century, there were several churches organized in [[Roman Gaul]], and soon after the cessation of persecution, the bishops of the Latin world assembled at Arles
The Church of Gaul passed through three crises in the late Roman period, [[Arianism]], [[Priscillianism]] and [[Pelagianism]].
Under [[Francia|Merovingian rule]], a number of "[[Frankish synods]]" were held, marking a particularly Germanic development in the Western Church.
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The forty-eight martyrs of [[Lyon]] (ancient [[Lugdunum]], "citadel of [[Lugus]]" the Gallic equivalent of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]) represented every rank of [[Gallo-Roman]] society. Among them were Vettius Epagathus, an aristocrat; the physician Attalus of Pergamus, from the professional class; from the Church, [[Saint Pothinus]] [[Bishop of Lyon]], with the [[wikt:neophyte|neophyte]] Maturus and the deacon Sanctus; and the young slaves [[Blandina]]<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02594a.htm Kirsch, Johann Peter. "St. Blandina." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907.{{PD-notice}}</ref> and Ponticus.
The sole account of the persecution is a letter preserved by [[Eusebius]]
How or where Christianity first gained a foothold in Gaul is purely a matter of conjecture. The firm establishment of Christianity in Gaul was undoubtedly due to missionaries from [[Early centers of Christianity#Anatolia|Asia]]. [[Saint Pothinus]] was a disciple of [[St. Polycarp]], [[Smyrna#Roman and Byzantine period|Bishop of Smyrna]], as was also his successor, [[Irenaeus]]. Most likely the first missionaries came by sea, touched at [[Marseilles]], and progressed up the river [[Rhône]] till they established the religion at Lyon, the metropolis and centre of communication for the whole country.<ref name=Lejay/> The Christians of the community in Lyon and Vienne were "predominantly of eastern background"<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6UTfmw_zStsC&dq=christianity+in+gaul&pg=PA366 Behr, John. "Gaul", ''Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 1, Origins to Constantine'', (Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, K. Scott Bowie, eds.) Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 371] {{ISBN|9780521812399}}</ref> and maintained closed ties with the community in Rome.
Eusebius speaks of letters written by the Churches of Gaul, of which Irenaeus is bishop.<ref>Hist. Eccl., V, xxiii.</ref> These letters were written on the occasion of the second event, which brought the Church of Gaul into prominence. [[Easter]] was not celebrated on the same day in all Christian communities; towards the end of the 2nd century, [[Pope Victor I|Pope Victor]] wished to universalize the Roman usage and [[excommunication|excommunicated]] the [[Early centers of Christianity#Anatolia|Churches of Asia Minor]] which were [[Quartodeciman]]. Irenaeus intervened to restore peace. About the same time, in an [[epigraphy|inscription]] found at [[Autun]] (ancient Augustodunum, the capital of the Celtic [[Aedui]]), a certain Pectorius celebrated in [[ancient Greek language|Greek]] verse the [[Ichthys]] or fish, symbol of the [[Eucharist]].<ref>See also [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun#History|Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun: History]].</ref> A third event in which the bishops of Gaul appear is the [[Novatianism|Novatian controversy]]. Bishop [[Faustinus of Lyon]] and other colleagues in Gaul are mentioned in 254 by [[Cyprian|St. Cyprian]]<ref>''Ep.'' lxviii.</ref> as opposed to [[Novatian]], whereas [[Marcianus of Arles]] was favourable to him.
==Local legends==
A series of local legends trace back the foundation of the principal [[Episcopal see|sees]] to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]]. Early in the 6th century, [[Caesarius of Arles]] disregarded anachronism in making the first [[Bishop of Vaison]], [[Daphnus]], a disciple of the Apostles, even though his signature appears at the [[Council of Arles (314)|Council of Arles in 314]].<ref>Lejay, Paul. ''Le rôle théologique de Césaire d'Arles'', p. 5.</ref> One hundred years earlier, one of his predecessors, [[Patrocles (bishop)|Patrocles]], based various claims
Such claims were flattering to local vanity. During the [[Middle Ages]] and over the centuries many legends grew up in support of them. The [[evangelization]] of Gaul has often been attributed to missionaries sent from Rome by [[Pope Clement I|St. Clement]]. This theory inspired a whole series of fallacious narratives and forgeries that complicate and obscure the historical record.<ref name=Lejay/>
==Gregory of Tours==
More faith can be placed in a statement of [[Gregory of Tours]] in his ''[[Historia Francorum]]'' (I, xxviii), on which was based the second group of narratives concerning the evangelisation of Gaul. According to him, in the year 250, Rome sent seven bishops, who founded as many churches in Gaul: Gatianus the Church of Tours, Trophimus that of [[Arles]], Paul that of [[Narbonne]], Saturninus that of Toulouse, Denis that of Paris, Stremonius (Austremonius) that of Auvergne (Clermont), and Martialis that of Limoges. Gregory's statement has been accepted with some reservations by historians. Nevertheless, even though Gregory, a late successor of Gatianus, may have had access to information on the beginnings of his church,
==Extent of Christian belief==
By the middle of the 3rd century, as St. Cyprian bears witness, there were several churches organized in Gaul. They suffered little from the great persecution. [[Constantius Chlorus]], the father of Constantine, was not hostile to Christianity, and soon after the cessation of persecution, the bishops of the Latin world assembled at Arles (314). Their signatures, which are still extant, prove that the following sees were then in existence:
*[[diocese of Vienne]],
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