E00573: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (50), tells of a large sarcophagus in Dijon (eastern Gaul), believed to be pagan, with cult practices held at it, which through a vision was revealed to belong to *Benignus (martyr of Dijon, S00320); Gregory [bishop of Langres, 506/507-539/540] refurbished the adjacent crypt and the sarcophagus was miraculously transported into it; a Martyrdom of the saint was acquired from Italy, miracles occurred, and a large church was built over the crypt. 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 50<br><br>Benignus autem ac dominici nominis testis apud Divionensim castrum martyrio consummatus est. Et quia in magnum sarcophagum post martyrium conditus fuit, putabant nostri temporis homines, et praesertim beatus Gregorius episcopus, ibi aliquem positum fuisse gentilem. Nam rustici vota inibi dissolvebant et quae petebant velociter inpetrabant. Ad hoc ergo beati sepulchrum quidam, dum exinde multa beneficia perciperet, cereum detulit; quo accenso, domi rediit. Puerulus enim parvulus haec observans, illo abeunte discendit ad tumulum, ut ardentem cereum extingueret et auferret. Quo discendente, ecce serpens mirae magnitudinis de alia parte veniens, cereum circumcingit. Puer autem timens, sursum rediit et bis aut tertio cereum auferre temptans, obsistente angue non potuit. Talia et his similia beato pontifici nuntiata nullo modo credebat, sed magis, ne ibidem adorarent, fortiter testabatur. <br><br>Tandem aliquando Dei martyr beato se confessori revelat et dicit: "Quid", inquid, "agis? Non solum quod tu dispicis, verum etiam honorantes me spernis. Ne facias, quaeso, sed tegmen super me velocius praepara". De qua ille visione concussus, beatum sepulchrum adit ibique diutissime pro ignorantia cum fletu veniam deprecatur. Et quia cripta illa, quae ab antiquis inibi transvoluta fuerat, diruta erat, rursum eam beatus pontifex reaedificavit, eleganti transvolvens opere. Sed sanctum sepulchrum, nescio qua causa faciente, foris evenit. Quod ille intus transferre cupiens, convocatis ad hoc obsequium abbates atque alios religiosos viros; in quo conventu grande miraculum beatus martyr et populis et suo praestetit confessori. Erat quippe validum, ut supra diximus, illud sarcophagum, ut talem in isto tempore nec tria paria bovum trahere possint. Cumque diutissime morarentur nec invenirent, qualiter eum intus inferrent, sanctus Gregorius, inluminatis cereis, cum grandi psallentio adprehensum a capite martyris sarcophagum, et duo presbiteri ad pedes moventes eum, in cripta habilissime detulerunt, et ubi ipsis fuit placitum, conposuerunt; quod non minimum populis spectaculum fuit. <br><br>Post paucos autem annos ab euntibus in Italiam passionis eius historiam adlatam beatus confessor accepit. Sed et deinceps sanctus martyr multis se virtutibus manifestavit in populis. Nec moratus, super criptam illam basilicam magnam iussit aedificari.<br><br>'Benignus, another witness to the name of the Lord, was perfected by martyrdom in the town of Dijon. After his martyrdom, because he was buried in a huge sarcophagus, men of our time and in particular the blessed bishop Gregorius always thought that some pagan had been buried there. For the countryfolk (rustici) fulfilled their vows there and quickly received what they sought. After one man noticed the many blessings there, he brought a candle to the tomb of the saint; after lighting it, he returned home. A young boy watched this, and after the man left he went down to the tomb to extinguish the burning candle and steal it. As he approached, behold, a huge serpent came from another direction and wrapped itself around the candle. The boy was afraid and turned back; even after trying a second and third time, he was unsuccessful because the serpent blocked him. Although these stories and others like them were reported to the bishop, in no way did he believe them, but all the more did he strongly encourage people not to worship there. <br><br>Finally the martyr of God once revealed himself to the blessed confessor (confessor) [Gregorius] and said: 'What', he asked, 'are you doing? Not only do you scorn this tomb, but you disdain those who honour me. Do not do this, I ask, but quickly prepare a shelter for me.' Gregorius was disturbed by this vision; he went to the sacred tomb and there at length wept and begged forgiveness for his ignorance. And because the crypt (cripta) that had been vaulted by the original builders was in disrepair, the blessed bishop rebuilt it and vaulted it with elegant workmanship. But for some unknown reason the holy sarcophagus remained outside. When Gregorius wished to transfer it inside, he gathered the abbots and other monks for the task. At this assembly the holy martyr performed a spectacular miracle for the people and for his own confessor Gregorius. This sarcophagus was in fact so large, as I said, that at the time three yoke of oxen were unable to budge it. They dallied for a long time and did not figure out how to carry the sarcophagus inside. So, in the spotlight of the candles and with the accompaniment of the loud chanting of psalms, St Gregorius picked up the sarcophagus at the end with the martyr's head and two priests moved it at the foot end. Effortlessly they brought the sarcophagus into the crypt and placed it where they had decided. For the people this was a fantastic sight. <br><br>A few years later the blessed confessor Gregorius acquired from men travelling to Italy a history of Benignus' suffering. Thereafter the holy martyr revealed himself to the people with many miracles. Without delay Gregorius ordered a large church to be constructed over the crypt.'<br><br>There follows an account of the miracles of Benignus (see $E00574). <br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 72-73. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 49-50.