The Presbyters Project

VIII.31

Advenientem autem dominicae resurrectionis diae, cum sacerdos ad implenda aeclesiastica officia ad aeclesiam maturius properasset, antefanas iuxta consuetudinem incipere per ordinem coepit. Cumque inter psallendum formolae decumberet, crudelis adfuit homicida, qui episcopum super formolam quiescentem, extracto baltei cultro, sub ascella percutit. Ille vero vocem emittens, ut clerici qui aderant adiuvarent, nullius ope de tantis adstantibus est adiutus.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 397-398)

VIII.31

The day of Lord's resurrection came round. Early in the morning Bishop Praetextatus hurried off to church to perform the ecclesiastic offices. He began to intone the antiphons in their proper order according to the use. During the chanting he reclined on the bench. As Praetextatus rested on this bench, there appeared a cruel assassin who drew a dagger from his belt and struck the bishop under the armpit. He cried out to the clerics who were present for help, but of all those standing near not one came to his assistance.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 463, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Bishop Praetextatus was assassinated in 586, Easter fell that year on the 14th of April. According to Gregory of Tours, Praetextatus'| murder was organised by Queen Fredegundis.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Rouen

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:

Functions within the Church - Urban presbyter

Described by a title - Clericus

Ritual activity - Celebrating feasts

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Conflict

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Conflict - Violence

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, ER1919, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1919