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ID
ER 1753
A priest in an unnamed place offers sanctuary to two slaves, before AD 587. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 573–594.
V.3
 
Two servants of Rauching fall in love.
 
Cumque haec dilectio per duorum annorum aut eo amplius spatio traheretur, coniuncti pariter aeclesiam petierunt. Quod cum Rauchingus conperisset, accedit ad sacerdotem loci; rogat, sibi protinus reddi suos famulos excusatus.
 
The priest surrendered the couple to Rauching on the condition that he would not separate or punish them. Rauching, however, buried the couple alive. The priest managed to rescue the man, but the woman suffocated.
 
(ed. Krusch 1937: 197)
V.3
 
Two servants of Rauching fall in love.
 
When this love lasted for two years or even longer, the couple went to the church together [to seek asylum]. When Rauching heard of this, he visited the local priest (sacerdos loci) and demanded that his two slaves be returned to him, having forgiven them.
 
The priest surrendered the couple to Rauching on the condition that he would not separate or punish them. Rauching, however, buried the couple alive. The priest managed to rescue the man, but the woman suffocated.
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 256–257, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

It is impossible to determine whether Gregory, by the use of the title sacerdos, refers to the bishop or to the presbyter.
 
Rauching died in 587.

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul

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 - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς
    Relation with - Noble
      Relation with - Slave/Servant
        Relation with - Woman
          Pastoral activity - Granting asylum
            Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1753, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1753
            Record by: Jerzy Szafranowski
            last edited: 2020-04-16 16:54:43
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