E07841: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (43), tells how, in the mid-5th c., relics of *Agricola and Vitalis (master and slave martyrs of Bologna, S00310), brought from Bologna (northern Italy) to Clermont (central Gaul), were ceremonially greeted by Namatius, bishop of Clermont, effecting a miracle at the time. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Dlambert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2020
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 43<br><br>Horum reliquias Namacius Arvernorum episcopus devote expetiit, ut scilicet eas in eclesia, quam ipse construxerat, collocaret. Direxitque unum illuc presbiterum, qui abiens cum Dei gratia, quae petierat detulit. Regressusque cum sociis, in quinto ab Arverna urbe miliario revertentes metatum accipiunt et ad episcopum missos dirigunt, ut eis quid agant iubeat ordinare. Mane autem facto, sacerdos, admonitis civibus, cum crucibus et cereis ad occursum sanctarum reliquiarum devotissimus properat. Cumque ei presbiter offerret, ut beatas reliquias aspiceret, si iuberet, et ille: "Mihi", inquid, "magis est haec credere quam videre. Sic enim in Scripturis legimus sanctis, et ipse Dominus beatos illos iudicat, qui eum cum non viderint credidissent". Hac itaque sacerdotis fide pollente, Dominus sanctos suos glorificat in virtute. Nam venientibus illis, subito contenebratum est caelum, et ecce imber umbrosus atque teterrimus super eos discendit, et tanta pluvia ibidem est diffusa, ut flumina per vias illas currere cernerentur.Verum tamen circa sancta pignora per unum valde iugerum neque una gutta visa est cecidisse. Et abeuntibus illis, pluvia eos a longe, quasi praebens obsequium, sequebatur, populum fovens, gestatores autem pignorum non attingens. Haec videns pontifex, magnificavit Dominum, qui fidei suae sic favens, talia ad sanctorum gloriam operare dignatus est. Congregatis vero civibus, cum magno gaudio atque devotione sanctam eclesiam his inlustratam pignoribus dedicavit.<br><br>'Namatius, bishop of Clermont, piously sought relics (religuias) of these martyrs [Agricola and Vitalis] so that he might put them in the cathedral that he was building. He sent one of his priests there [to Bologna]; the priest left with the favour of God and brought back what Namatius sought. As the priest was returning with his companions, they turned aside five miles from Clermont and took lodgings. They sent messengers to the bishop so that he might order them to prepare what they were to do. At daybreak the bishop instructed the citizens and with great piety hurried off with crosses and candles to meet the holy relics. When the priest suggested to him that he look at the blessed relics, if he so ordered, Namatius replied: 'For me it is greater to believe these things than to see them. For so we read in the holy Scriptures, and the Lord himself judged those men to be blessed who had believed in him whom they had not seen' [cf. John 20:29]. Since the faith of this bishop was so strong, the Lord glorified his saints with his power. For as they were travelling, suddenly the sky turned dark, and behold, a heavy rainstorm fell on them. So much rain fell there that rivers were seen to run along the roads. But around the holy relics within the area of one entire iugerum [i.e. about two-thirds of an acre] not a single drop was seen to fall. As the people moved away, the rainstorm followed them at a distance, as if offering homage. The rain refreshed the people, but it never touched those carrying the relics. When the bishop saw this, he extolled the Lord who so complimented his own faith and who deigned to perform such deeds to the glory of the saints. Once his congregation assembled, with great celebration and piety bishop Namatius dedicated the holy cathedral that is distinguished by these relics.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 67. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 42-43, lightly modified.