St Vedast alias Foster Church Greater London hotels:

Vedast was a bishop in northern Gaul (France) in the late fifth and early sixth centuries, who helped to restore the Christian church in the region around Arras after many decades of destruction following the barbarian invasions in this part of the Roman Empire. He is particularly remembered for his connection with Clovis, King of the Franks, who became a Christian c. 497 AD. Clovis' wife, Queen Clotilda, was previously a Christian, and, according to tradition, it was she who brought about the king's conversion. Because of Clotilda's prayers, Clovis had won an important victory in a battle against the Alemanni, near Cologne, in 496 AD, and this prompted the king's conversion to the Christian faith. For a time, Vedast assisted St. Remigius in his missionary work among the Franks in the city of Reims. He was later consecrated Bishop of Arras by St. Remigius in 499 AD, a diocese that had lapsed back into heathen ways, and so he set out to reconvert the people to Christianity. Vedast was also charged with the diocese of Cambrai. Vedast is mainly remembered for his charity, meekness and patience. He is credited with working several miracles, one of which occurred during his journey to Reims with King Clovis, on the way to Clovis' baptism. Vedast restored the sight of a blind man by the Aisne River with a prayer and the sign of the cross, and this act strengthened Clovis' resolve to convert, and also convinced several of his courtiers to convert immediately. The other miracles occurred much later, when Vedast was entering the city of Arras to be ordained bishop; he once again gave a blind man back his sight, and also cured a man who was lame. Vedast died on February 6th, 539 AD, and was buried in his cathedral at Arras, but one hundred and twenty-eight years later, the bishop and Saint Aubert converted a small chapel dedicated to St. Peter into an Abbey, which later became a cathedral, and which now houses St. Vedast's relics.