Saint Perpetuus, patron saint of Dinant
For centuries, Saint Perpetuus has been the patron saint of Dinant and one of the major figures in the town’s religious history. Yet we know very little about the man himself. The accounts of his life were written long after the period in which he is believed to have lived and provide very few biographical details.
Perpetuus is said to have been bishop of Tongeren-Maastricht at the beginning of the 7th century. Tradition holds that he often stayed in Dinant and died there around 614.
Venerated from an early date as the town’s protector, Perpetuus also acquired a reputation as a healing saint. Numerous miracles were attributed to him and his tomb became a place of devotion. Thus, over the centuries, this bishop whose history remains largely mysterious became an essential figure in Dinant’s identity.