MÉRIDA, FATHERS OF

Five bishops—Paul, Fidelis, Masona, Innocent, Renovatus—of Mérida, from c. 550 to 633. An anonymous deacon of Mérida, arbitrarily named Paul in the 16th century, related edifying tales about the first three, with vague chronological indications. Paul, a physician from Greece, eventually became bishop. After many years, he recognized in a young man who came to Mérida with Greek merchants his nephew Fidelis, whom he trained for the sacred ministry and after many years chose as his successor. Fidelis was succeeded by Masona, a noble Goth who was called "well-known" by john of biclaro in 573. Masons built and endowed many churches and monasteries, and established a hospital and a loan bank. He was exiled by the Arian King Leovegild (568–586) for three years, probably in 582 when Leovegild recaptured Mérida from his rebellious Catholic son hermenegild. Masona and Leovegild's convert son and successor Recared (586–601) overcame uprisings of Arian bishops and nobles. Masona signed the acts of the Third Council of Toledo (589) and a Toledo synod (597) and, if a letter from St. isidore to him is authentic, was still alive in 605 or 606. He was succeeded by Innocent, who signed a decree of King Gundemar (610–612) in 610, and by the learned and prudent Renovatus, who was bishop for many years. The next known bishop of Mérida, Stephen I, signed the acts of the Fourth Council of Toledo (633).

Bibliography: j. n. garvin, ed. and tr., The Vitas sanctorum patrum Emeretensium (Washington 1946).

[j. n. garvin]