Martin des Ormeaux was a 7th-century bishop of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. To avoid confusion with Saint Martin of Tours, he is often referred to as Martinus de Ulmis. After serving his diocese for several years, he was stricken by a severe, incurable, and contagious illness. This condition, which legend suggests was leprosy, led him to live as a hermit in an isolated house near Taulignan until his death.
Life and death
Appointed to his bishopric in 657, Martin eventually withdrew from public life due to his debilitating health. He spent his final days in seclusion near Taulignan. Archaeological excavations at a chapel in Taulignan have uncovered a 7th or 8th-century sarcophagus, which is believed to be his original burial site.
Veneration and legacy
He was recognized as a saint by the people for his piety and his life as a hermit. His relics were moved to Alençon and later hidden in Valréas in 1398 to protect them from local unrest. While his traditional feast day was once replaced by the celebration of Saint John the Baptist, the parish in Valréas restored his feast on June 23 in recent years.