Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Gratus, an illustrious bishop of Aosta who lived in the 5th century. Of Greek origin and endowed with a refined theological culture, Gratus was a tireless shepherd and an uncompromising defender of the orthodox faith. His figure stands out in the landscape of the ancient Church not only for his collaboration with Bishop Eustasius of Milan and his participation in the councils against the Monophysite heresy, but above all for his fervent work of evangelization in the territory. With courage and pastoral dedication, he pushed into mountain communities to instruct the people and eradicate persistent pagan cults, firmly planting the cross among the Alpine valleys. Even today, his venerated figure remains the beating heart of the devotion and spiritual identity of Aosta and its diocese.
