Originally from a Roman family, he was called Lucius like his father but changed to Lucien during the preaching of St. Peter. He then travelled all over Italy to preach.

Victim of persecution during his stay in Parma, he was imprisoned and escaped the same evening.

Around 250, he was ordained bishop by the pope who sent him to Gaul with Saint-Denis and Saint Rieul.

He travelled all over France and settled in Caesaromagus, now Beauvais.

His virtues, his deeds of the flesh and the miracles he performed in the region would have contributed to the conversion of nearly 30,000 men.

Around 290, the emperor Diocletian opposed to Christianity sent Latinus, Jarius and Antor to kill Lucien who warned of the danger, took refuge with his two companions Maxien and Julien in Montmille. Found by the Romans, his companions are beheaded, Lucien is beaten with yards and finally beheaded. The probable place of martyrdom is called La Rosière.

After his death, Lucien's body would have been "surrounded by light" and those present would have heard "Courage, good and faithful servant, who was not afraid to spill your blood for me, come and receive the crown promised to you." So Lucien got up, took his head and walked to Beauvais. He stopped near the town where his body was buried and where the Abbey of Saint-Lucien was later built. He is one of the holy cephalophores.

The existence of his relics is uncertain: indeed, part of them was destroyed in a fire in 1793. But another part of his remains could be at Notre-Dame du Thil in Beauvais, following a translation made before the fire by the revolutionaries.

His motto is: "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God".