E00480: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (67-68), recounts several miracles of *Genesius (notary and martyr of Arles, S00263): how wood from a tree at the place of his martyrdom cures the sick; how on the day of his festival those endangered by the collapse of the bridge of boats over the Rhône were saved; how the Lombards failed to loot the church of his burial; and how a woman cast into the Rhône was saved when she invoked the saint; all in Arles (southern Gaul). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2021
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 67-68<br><br>In chapter 66, Gregory has mentioned relics of Genesius of Arles (E00479). In these next two chapters, Gregory expounds on miracles of this Genesius:<br><br>67. Hic vero martyr Genesius decesionem cervicis agonem pro Christi nomine apud eandem, Arelatensim scilicet, urbem, pollentem fervorem fidei, consummavit. Est autem ibi arbor, ubi dicitur decollatus fuisse, genere morus, ex qua infirmis multa plerumque beneficia, inpertiente martyre, sunt concessa. Sed decursis temporibus, cum rami cortixque eius pro salvatione a multis detraherentur, arefacta est. Verum tamen adhuc fideliter petentibus vivit, similia praebens medicamina quod superest de colomna.<br><br>'This martyr Genesius, because of the strength of the fervour of his faith, consummated his struggle for the name of Christ by having his head cut off in the same city, that is, Arles. At the spot where he is said to have been beheaded there is a mulberry tree that with the assistance of the martyr often offered many benefits to ill people. But with the passage of time, after many people had broken off its branches and bark for healing purposes, it withered. What remains of the trunk is, however, still alive for those who make devout requests, and it offers similar remedies.'<br><br>68. In this chapter Gregory relates three separate miracles of Genesius:<br><br>Sed et pons quondam super Rhodanum fluvium, ubi beatus martyr natasse fertur, in die solemnitatis eius, disruptis catenis, quia super naves locatus erat, nutare coepit, ac prae nimio pondere populorum ipsae naves dehiscentes, in alveo fluminis populum submergebant. Tunc omnes simul in discrimine positi, una voce clamaverunt, dicentes: "Genesi beatissime, eripe nos propriae sanctitatis virtute, ne pereat plebs, quae fideliter advenit tua devote solemnia celebrare". Mox, flante vento, vulgus omne ad litus reductum, miratur, se virtute martyris esse salvatum. <br><br>'The bridge over the river Rhône, where the blessed martyr is said to have swum, on the day of his feast broke its chains (it being set on boats) and began to sway. Because of the great weight of the people, the boats broke apart and threw the people into the river. Everyone was placed in the same danger, and they shouted with one voice and said: 'Blessed Genesius, save us by the power of your own holiness, lest the people who have faithfully and piously come to celebrate your festival perish.' Soon a wind blew up and the entire crowd of people was brought to the bank. They marvelled that they had been saved by the power of the martyr.'<br> <br>Nam et cancelli beati sepulchri saepius a Langobardis vel reliquis hostibus confracti sunt. Sed arrepti a daemone homines aut conprehensi rabiae, debachantes aut propriis se dentibus lacerantes, nihil de his quae violenter coeperant abstulerunt.<br><br>'Lombards and other enemies often broke the gates of his holy tomb. These men were possessed by a demon and seized by madness. They raged and bit themselves with their own teeth, but they carried off none of the objects they had violently taken.'<br><br>Ferunt etiam in hac urbe fuisse mulierem, cui a viro crimen inpactum nec omnino probatum, a iudice, ut aquis inmergeretur, diiudicata est. Cui cum ad collum lapis inmensus funibus colligatus fuisset, in Rhodanum de navi praecipitata est. Illa vero beati martyris auxilium precabatur, et nomen eius invocans, aiebat: "Sancte Genesi, gloriosae martyr, qui has aquas natandi pulsu sanctificasti, erue me iuxta innocentiam meam!" Et statim super aquas ferri coepit. Quod videntes populi, susceperunt eam in navi et ad basilicam sancti deduxerunt incolomen; nec ulterius a viro vel a iudice est quaesita.<br><br>'They say that in Arles there was a woman whose husband accused her of a crime. Although the accusation was not proved at all, it was decided by a judge that she be submerged in the water. A huge stone was tied to her neck with ropes, and she was thrown from a boat into the river Rhône. But she begged for the assistance of the blessed martyr, invoked his name, and said: "St Genesius, glorious martyr, you who have sanctified these waters with the stroke of your swimming, rescue me because of my innocence!" Immediately she began to float on the waters. When the people saw this, they took her into the boat and brought her alive to the church of the saint. Neither her husband nor the judge investigated her further.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 83-84. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 64-65, modified.