The episode begins by introducing Saint Isidore of Seville, noting his Greek-derived name and significance as a 7th-century Doctor of the Church and confessor. It details his family background: his father Severianos was a Hispano-Roman who fled Carthage to Andalusia, and four of his children, including Isidore, were proclaimed saints. Isidore was born in Seville and orphaned young, leading to his upbringing by his older brother Leander, the Bishop of Seville. Under Leander's influence, Isidore immersed himself in a diverse library, reading Christian, Jewish, and pagan texts. Upon Leander's death in 599, Isidore succeeded him as bishop. His episcopate involved presiding over councils and working on the conversion of Goths and Vandals, but it was also marked by forced conversions, particularly of Jews. Isidore was a relentless writer, and at his death in 636, he left an extensive body of work covering fields like astronomy, geography, history, theology, semantics, science, and literature. Key works include 'Etymology,' a 20-volume encyclopedia on the origins of things that was widely circulated until the Renaissance, and a history of the Goths that serves as a valuable historical source. He served as bishop for forty years and died in his cathedral, lying on ashes while speaking to an audience. Isidore is often depicted as a bishop with a feather and surrounded by bees, symbolizing the eternity of his words. The episode is part of the 'Le Saint du Jour' series, written by Bénédicte Draillard and hosted by Audiomeans, with support from listener donations to RCF.
