Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1033
Presbyter Marcellus is responsible for the community of monks living in the old fortress at Amboise. He is unable to demolish a pagan temple there. Account in the "Dialogues" by Sulpicius Severus, writing in Primuliacum (Gaul), ca AD 406.
Dialogue 3.8.4-5
 
In uico Ambatiensi, id est castello ueteri, quod nunc frequens habitatur a fratribus, idolium noueratis grande opere constructum.
politissimis saxis moles turrita surrexerat, quae in conum sublime procedens superstitionem loci operis dignitate seruabat. Huius destructionem Marcello, ibidem consistenti presbytero, uir beatus saepe mandauerat. Post aliquantum tempus regressus increpat presbyterum, cur adhuc idolii structura consisteret. Ille causatus uix militari manu et ui publicae multitudinis tantam molem posse subuerti, nedum id facile putaret per inbecillos clericos aut infirmos monachos quiuisse curari. Tum Martinus recurrens ad nota subsidia nocte tota in oratione peruigilat: mane orta tempestas aedem idoli usque ad fundamentum prouoluit. Verum haec Marcello teste dicta sint.
 
(ed. Fontaine 2006: 314-316)
Dialogue 3.8.4-5
 
In the village of Amboise, the old fortress that is now inhabited by crowds of brothers, you know that there was the temple of an idol, constructed on a large scale. With the smoothest stones, the massive structure was built up into turrets, which, rising to a lofty point, was preserving superstition in that place because of the impressiveness of the craftmanship.
The blessed man had often commanded Marcellus, who had taken position of presbyter there, to destroy the temple. Returning after a short amount of time, Martin scolded the presbyter, asking why that structure devoted to an idol still stood. He offered as his excuse that it would be virtually impossible to tear down such a great structure with a band of soldiers and the power of multitude of people; so why should Martin so readily believe that it could be attended to by feeble clerics and infirm monks? Then Martin returned to his well-known resources: he remained in prayer throughout the entire night. In the morning, a storm arose that leveled the idol's temple, right down to its foundation. Let Marcellus confirm these words!
 
(trans. Goodrich 2015: 238, changed by J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
  • East
City
  • Amboise

About the source:

Author: Sulpicius Severus
Title: Dialogues, Dialogi, Gallus sive dialogi de virtutibus sancti Martini, Dialogorum libri II
Origin: Primuliacum (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Sulpicius Severus` hagiographical corpus concerning Martin of Tours cosists of the Life , three letters, and three Dialogues. The Dialogues were composed between AD 400 (the year of Origenist controversy, to which Sulpicius makes a reference), and the years 410-412 when Jerome published his Commentary on Ezekiel, in which he mentions the Dialogues. Stancliffe (Stancliffe 1983: 81) suggests that the Dialogues were composed between 404 and 406, judging by the comment of one of the interlocutors that eight years have passed since Martin`s death (in 397) and no allusion to the barbarian invasions of Gaul in AD 406-407. The work was likely published in two separate volumes, with volume 1 containing the first and second Dialogue and volume 2 the third. It can be proven both on the basis of the early mansuscript tradition and the account of Gennadius (see [670]).
Edition:
Sulpicius Severus, Gallus: dialogues sur les “vertus” de Saint Martin, ed. and transl. J. Fontaine, Sources Chrétiennes 510, Paris 2006.
 
Translation:
Sulpicius Severus, The Complete Works, transl. R.J. Goodrich, Ancient Christian Writers 70, New York 2015.
 
Bibliography:
C. Stancliffe, St. Martin and his hagiographer: history and miracle in Sulpicius Severus, Oxford 1983.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter
Functions within the Church - Rural presbyter
Functions within the Church - Monastic presbyter
Monastic or common life - Cenobitic monk
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Relation with - Monk/Nun
Relation with - Pagan
Devotion - Supernatural experience
Pastoral activity - Missionary work
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1033, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1033