E00625: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (78), tells of relics of *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288) in the cathedral at Agde (southern Gaul), and recounts how a count was punished for stealing a property of the church; in the story the bishop extinguishes the lamps in the cathedral until God takes vengeance on the count. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 78<br><br>Eclesia quoque Agatensis urbis, quae sancti Andreae apostoli reliquiis plaudit, plerumque gloriosis inlustratur miraculis, pervasores rerum suarum saepius arguit.<br><br>'The cathedral at Agde, which rejoices in its relics of the apostle St Andrew, often is distinguished by glorious miracles and often exposes those who invade its possessions.'<br><br>Gregory then recounts a long miracle story. The count (comes), Gomacharius, seized a field belonging to the church. When remonstrated with by the bishop, Leo, he refused to return the property, because he was a heretic. The count fell ill, and promised to return what he had taken. The bishop prayed for him and he recovered; but on recovery he changed his mind, attributing his cure to the natural course of the disease.<br><br>Quod cum episcopus conperisset, venit ad eum, dicens: "Num paenitet te prius fecisse bene, quod hoc iterum conaris evertere? Ne facias, quaeso, et ultioni divinae subiaceas". Qui ait ad episcopum: "Sile, sile decrepite; nam infrenatum te loris circuire urbem super asinum faciam, ut sis in ridiculo omnibus qui te aspexerint". At ille silens ad nota recurrit praesidia; prosternitur in oratione, celebratur vigilias ac noctem totam in lacrimis et psallentio ducit. Mane autem facto, accedit ad lignos, qui de camera eclesiae dependebant, extendensque virgam, quam tenebat in manu, effregit cunctos, dicens: "Non hic accenditur lumen, donec ulciscatur Deus de inimicis et restituat res domus suae". Haec eo dicente, protinus hereticus ille in rediviva febre corruit.<br><br>'When the bishop learned of this, he went to the count and said: 'Do you already regret to have done a good deed, so that you attempt again to do the opposite? I ask you, do not do this, and do not expose yourself to divine vengeance.' The count said to the bishop: 'Be quiet, be quiet, you decrepit man. I will have you bound with the reins to ride around the city on an ass, so that everyone who sees you might ridicule you.' The bishop was silent and returned to his familiar protection [in the cathedral]. He knelt in prayer, kept vigils, and spent the entire night weeping and chanting psalms. At daybreak he went to the lamps that hung from the rafters of the cathedral, stretched out the staff that he held in his hand, and broke all the lights. He said: 'No light will be lit here until God takes vengeance on his enemies and restores this field that belongs to his house.' As he said this, immediately the heretic collapsed from a revived fever.'<br> <br>Near death, the count sent to the bishop, again promising to return the field, and asking for his prayers; but Leo refused, saying he had already done this once. Repeated entreaties are also turned down. Eventually the count had himself carried before the bishop and this time offered double restitution, but was yet again refused. The count ordered Leo with the threat of force to go to the cathedral, but as the bishop set out to do this, the count died. The church recovered its property.<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 90. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 73. Summary: Bryan Ward-Perkins