The Presbyters Project

I.31

De horum vero discipulis quidam Bituricas civitatem adgressus, salutare omnium, Christum dominum populis nuntiavit. Ex his ergo pauci quodadmodo credentes, clerici ordinati, ritum psallendi suscipiunt, et qualiter ecclesiam construant vel omnipotenti Deo sollemnia caelebrare debeant, inbuuntur.

This was not an easy task, since the town elite were still pagan. Finally, a certain Leocadius offered his house which was converted into the church, now Bourges' cathedral.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 24)

I.31

One of their [the first five Gallic bishops'] disciples went to the city of Bourges and preached to the people that Christ our Lord had come to save mankind. Only a few believed him. These were ordained clerics. They were taught how to chant psalms, and they were given instruction in building churches and celebrating solemn rites (sollemnia) due to Almighty God. As yet they had little chance of building a church, so they asked for the use of the house of one of the townsfolk so that they could make a church of it.

This was not an easy task, since the town elite were still pagan. Finally, a certain Leocadius offered his house which was converted into the church, now Bourges' cathedral.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 87–88, slightly altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

As Saturninus is said to be appointed bishop in 250, Gregorty dates his martyrdom to the persecutions of the Emperor Valerianus between 257 and 260. This episode does not tell us much about the customs of the 3rd century, but it is an interesting evidence of how Gregory imagined the conversion of the city.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Bourges

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Tours
Title: The History of the Franks, Gregorii episcopi Turonensis historiarum libri X, Histories
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory of Tours (Gaul) wrote his ten books of Histories (known commonly in English as the History of the Franks) during his episcopal reign in Tours between 573 and 594. The books vary in scope and length. The first book covers 5,596 years from the creation of the world to AD 397, that is the death of Saint Martin of Tours, Gregory`s predecessor in bishopric. The second book deals with the history of Gaul between 397 and 511, the latter being the year of death of King Clovis I. The third and fourth books cover the next 64 years till the death of Austrasian King Sigibert II in 575. Finally, the following six books describe exclusively the sixteen years from 575 to 591. Probably in 594, Gregory added the list of bishops of Tours in the end of the Histories, with brief accounts of their actions.

Edition:

B. Krusch ed., Gregorii Episcopi Turonensis Historiarum Libri X [in:] Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingiciarum 1.1, Hannover 1884 (repr. 1951): 1-537.

Translation:

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks, trans. L. Thorpe, London 1974.

Categories:

Non-Christian Origin - Pagan

Described by a title - Clericus

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Ecclesiastical administration - Construction/Renovation

Relation with - Noble

Relation with - Townsman

Ritual activity - Chanting

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1700, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1700