Hieromartyr Saturninus (III c.), the first bishop of Toulouse, was a Greek by birth and a nobleman by birth. Saint Saturninus is one of the seven holy missionaries sent by Rome to enlighten Gaul during the reign of Decius (249-251). When the missionaries reached Arles, Saturninus traveled to the Languedoc and Gascony regions (southwestern France) up to the borders with Spain. After great success, he encountered the callousness of the pagans in Carcassonne, where he was arrested. Released by the intervention of an Angel, he continued his mission in the city of Toulouse, where he found souls more open to the search for truth, and founded a Church there. He healed the sick and lepers with the sign of the cross and inspired listeners with his sermon.
Leaving the Pope as his successor, Saturninus went to Spain and led the cities of Pamplona and Toledo to the faith. Upon his return to Toulouse after the martyrdom of the Pope, St. Saturninus shone with the grace of God so much that the demons left the pagan temple and the idols stopped "serving" their priests and remained mute, despite the prayers of the pagans and the sacrifices offered. The pagans were greatly distressed by this. They were preparing to sacrifice a bull on the Capitol when Saturninus came, going to the service of God. Someone in the crowd recognized him and exclaimed: "Here is the enemy of our religion, the standard-bearer of a new sect, the one who teaches us to destroy our temples, the one who condemns our gods, calling them demons. It is his presence that prevents us from getting our usual answers. Let's avenge the insults he inflicts on us and our gods. Let's make him sacrifice to appease the gods, or die, so that at least his death would be pleasant for them!" While the saint's companions fled, Saturninus, remaining calm, replied: "I know only one true God. How do you want me to be afraid of your imaginary gods, when, according to you, they are the ones who are afraid of me?" These words of the bishop led the crowd into a frenzy. Saturninus was seized and tied by the legs with a rope to a wild bull, which, driven by the pricks of the pikes, rushed furiously out of the temple. On the very first steps, the head of the holy martyr broke. Then the animal, continuing its run through the streets of the city, turned his body into rags, dragging him until the rope broke. A church was later erected in that place in honor of the Holy Martyr Saturninus.
Despite the danger, two poor Christian women soon came to the place, put the body of the holy martyr in a wooden coffin and buried him nearby. Visited for centuries by numerous pilgrims, the grave of the Apostle of Toulouse was famous for the miracles that took place there.