E00502: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (30), tells of the tomb of *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288) in Patras (Greece), which on the day of his feast produces 'manna' and oil; the oil has healing power and its quantity presages the fertility of the crops in the following year. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Dlambert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 30<br><br>Andreas apostolus magnum miraculum in die solemnitatis suae profert, hoc est mannam in modum farinae vel oleum cum odore nectareo, quod de tumulo eius exundat. Per id enim, quae sit fertilitas anni sequentis, ostenditur. Si exiguum profluxerit, exiguum terra profert fructum; si vero fuerit copiosum, magnum arva proventum fructuum habere significat. Nam ferunt in aliquibus annis, in tantum e tumulo oleum exundare, ut usque medium basilicae profluat rivus ille. Haec autem aguntur apud provintiam Achaiam, in civitate Patras, in qua beatus apostolus sive martyr pro Redemptoris nomine crucifixus praesentem vitam gloriosa morte finivit.Tamen cum oleum defluxerit, tantum odorem naribus praestat, ut putes ibi multarum aromatum sparsam esse congeriem. Quod non sine miraculo ac beneficio habetur in populis. Nam ex hoc seu inunctiones factae sive potiones datae plerumque languentibus commodum praestant. Post cuius gloriosam adsumptionem multae virtutes vel ad hoc sepulchrum vel per loca diversa, in qua eius reliquiae collocatae sunt, feruntur ostensae.De quibus pauca memorari non putavi absurdum, quia aedificatio est eclesiae gloria martyrum virtusque sanctorum.<br><br>'On the day of his festival the apostle Andrew works a great miracle, that is, [by producing both] manna with the appearance of flour and oil with the fragrance of nectar which overflows from his tomb. In this way the fertility of the coming year is revealed. If only a little oil flows [from his tomb], the land will produce few crops; but if the oil was plentiful, it signifies that the fields will produce many crops. For they say that in some years so much oil gushed from his tomb that a torrent flowed into the middle of the church. These events happened in the province of Achaea, in the city of Patras where the blessed apostle and martyr was crucified for the name of the Redeemer and ended his present life with a glorious death. But when the oil flows, it offers such a strong fragrance to [people's] noses that you might think a collection of many different spices had been sprinkled there. A miracle and a blessing for the people accompany this [flow of oil]. For salves and potions are made from this oil; once used, they offer great relief to ill people. After the glorious reception of Andrew [in Paradise] many miracles are said to have been revealed either at this tomb or in various places where his relics are located. I do not think it inappropriate to relate a few of these miracles, because the edification of the Church is found in the glory of martyrs and the power of saints.'<br><br>There follows an account of the miracles of Andrew (see $E00503). <br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 55. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 27.