The Presbyters Project

IV.32

Erat tunc temporis apud Randanensim monasterium civitatis Arvernae presbiter praeclarae virtutis. Iulianus nomine, vir magnae abstinentiae, qui neque vinum neque ullum pulmentum utebatur, cilicio omni tempore sub tunicam habens, in vigiliis promtus, in oratione assiduus; cui inerguminos curare, caecos illuminare vel reliquas infirmitates depellere per invocationem dominici nominis et signaculum sanctae crucis facile erat. Idem cum stando pedes ab humore haberet infectos et ei diceretur, cur contra possibilitatem corporis semper staret, dicere cum ioco spirituali erat solitus: "Faciunt opus meum, dum et vita comis est, nec me eorum sustentatio, Domino iubente, relinquid". Nam videmus eum quadam vice in basilica beati Iuliani martyris inerguminum verbo tantum curasse. Quartanariis et aliis febribus saepe per orationem remedia conferebat. Qui sub hoc tempore lues dierum atque virtutum plenus ex hoc mundo est adsumptus in requie.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 166)

IV.32

At that time there lived in the Randan monastery of the city of Clermont a presbyter of famous virtue. He was called Julianus and he was a man of great abstinence who never tasted wine and meat (pulmentum), and had a hair-shirt at all times under his tunic. He was eager in his vigils and constant in prayer. For him it was easy to cure demoniacs, to restore sight to the blind, and heal other infirmities by calling the name of the Lord and [making] the sign of the Holy Cross. Through long standing his feet were infected with fluid (humor). Asked why he always stood even though his body did not permit him to, he used to answer with a spiritual joke: "My [feet] serve me as long as the life is jolly and by the order of God their support does not leave me". Once in the basilica of Saint Julianus the martyr we saw that he healed a demoniac with only a word. He often brought down quartan and other fevers by the remedy of prayer. Full of days [i.e. old] and virtues, he was taken from this world to rest at this time of plague.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 226, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

The plague broke out in Auvergne in 571.

Randan is located some 37 km north-east of Clermont.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Clermont
Randan

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:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR785.

Monastic or common life - Cenobitic monk

PR785.

Fame of sanctity

PR785.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR785.

Age

PR785.

Devotion - Vigils

PR785.

Devotion - Fasting

PR785.

Devotion - Ascetic practice

PR785.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1746, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1746