The Presbyters Project

X.31 (catalogue of the bishops of Tours)

Gregory of Tours ordered to rebuild the main basilica of Tours, which was destroyed by fire.

in qua, sicut a longevis aevo presbiteris conperi, beatorum ibidem reliquiae Acaunensium ab antiquis fuerant collocatae.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 534)

X.31 (catalogue of the bishops of Tours)

Gregory of Tours ordered to rebuild the main basilica of Tours, which was destroyed by fire.

I was told by certain very elderly presbyters that the relics of the Agaune martyrs had been deposited there by the men of long ago.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 600, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

According to the Gloria posthuma sancti Mauritii et Thebaeorum 182 (AASS Sept. VI, p. 385), it was none other than Saint Martin himself who obtained the flasks containing the blood of the Theban Martyrs. He always carried them with himself and ordered to be put in his grave.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

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 - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Age

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2331, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2331