Vedast (Waast or Vaast)

Saint Vaast, also known as Waast or Vedast (and sometimes Gaston in French), was an influential bishop of the 6th century, originating from Périgord. He was educated by Saint Remigius, the bishop of Reims. His primary renown comes from his role as the spiritual tutor and catechist of the Frankish king, Clovis I, preparing him for his historic baptism around 496 AD. Following Clovis's conversion, Vaast was appointed the first bishop of the united dioceses of Arras and Cambrai. He dedicated himself to restoring churches damaged by barbarian invasions and to evangelizing populations still pagan or adhering to Arianism. Tradition recounts that he performed miracles, notably driving a bear out of Arras, a scene frequently depicted in his iconography. His life stands as a testament to apostolic zeal and pastoral dedication during a foundational period of French history.