E00537: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (37), tells of the tomb and crypt of *Chrysanthus and Daria (chaste couple and martyrs of Rome, S00306) in their church in Rome; people who had gathered for the saints' festival there were buried in the crypt by an evil emperor and became martyrs themselves; much later a theft of silver vessels was prevented; Gregory mentions an inscription of pope Damasus at the shrine. 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 37<br><br>Crisantus martyr, ut historia passionis declarat, post acceptam martyrii coronam cum Daria virgine multa populis sanitatum beneficia tribuebat. Et ob hoc etiam cripta super eos miro opere fabricata est, quae in arcorum modo transvoluta, firmissima stabilitate subsistit. Denique cum ad eius festa populorum frequentatio confluxisset, iniquissimus imperator, erectum in illius criptae introitu parietem, conclusa multitudine, iussit aedem harena ac lapidibus operiri, factusque est desuper mons magnus; idque gestum certissime ipsius manifestant scripta certaminis. Quae cripta diu sub hoc velamento permansit operta, donec urbs Romana, relictis idolis, Christo domino subderetur. Iam procedente tempore iam nulli erat cognitus locus ipsius sepulturae, donec domino Iesu revelante patefactum est; cuius parte in una loci, interposito pariete, sepulchra martyrum Crisanti et Dariae segregata, parte in alia sanctorum reliquorum cadavera in unum sunt congregata. Verum tamen pariete illo, qui est in medio positus, fenestram structor patefactam reliquit, ut ad contemplanda sanctorum corpora aditus aspiciendi patesceret.<br><br>'According to the history of his suffering, after the martyr Chrysanthus received the crown of martyrdom with the virgin Daria he graciously performed many healings for people. For this reason a crypt of wonderful workmanship was constructed over their tombs. The crypt was vaulted in the manner of arches and stood on a very solid foundation. When a crowd of people gathered for his festival, an evil emperor had a wall constructed across the entrance to the crypt to trap the people inside and ordered that the shrine be covered by sand and rocks. A large mound was built on top. The records of the martyr's struggle clearly state that this is what happened. For a long time the crypt remained buried by this covering. Finally the city of Rome discarded its idols and yielded to Christ the Lord. Already during previous years no one knew the location of this mausoleum, until the Lord Jesus revealed and exposed it. A wall divided the place; on one side the tombs of the martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria were separated, on the other side the bodies of the other saints were placed in one tomb. But the builder left an open window in this wall that had been placed in the middle, so that a panorama was available for viewing the bodies of the saints.'<br><br>Gregory then recounts a long story centred on some silver vessels that the worshippers who had come to venerate Chrysanthus and Daria (and were then walled up by the emperor) had brought with them; these after the shrine was reopened in Christian times could also be seen through this window. A subdeacon coveted these vessels and crawled in at night through the window to steal them, but then was unable to find his way out. Hiding by day, he tried for three nights to get out, and was finally driven by starvation to reveal himself and confess his crime.<br><br>Post multum vero temporis cognoscens hoc factum Damasus antestis sanctae sedis apostolicae, iussit diligentius operere fenestram, ubi et versibus decoravit locum. Et ibi benedicitur dominus noster Iesus Christus ad laudem nominis sui usque in hodiernum diem.<br><br>'Much later Damasus, bishop of this holy apostolic see [of Rome], learned of the deed and ordered that the window be carefully closed over. He commemorated the spot with some verses. And still today our Lord Jesus Christ is blessed by the praise of his name at this spot.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 62. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 35-36. Summary: Bryan Ward-Perkins