The Presbyters Project

9.3

Tunc archipresbiter Nereensis vici, collecta clericorum cohorte, voluit vi auferre glebam sancti corpusculi, videlicet ut ad vicum suum, unde egressus fuerat, sepeliretur. Sed cum furibundus veniens vidisset a longe pallam quae sanctus tegebat artos eximio albere nitore, ita nutu Dei est metu perterritus, ut omni velocitate revocaret ab animo, quod male conceperat levitatis arbitrio, coniunctusque psallentio in exequiis sancti progressus, tumulavit eum cum reliquis qui aderant fratribus in ipso Columbariense monasterio.

(ed. Krusch 1885: 255)

9.3

The archpresbyter of Néris assembled a cohort of clerics, planning to take the body of the holy man by force in order to bury it in the village from which the saint had once come. But as he come forward in anger he saw from afar that the cloth which covered the remains of the holy man was of shining whiteness. He was then, by God's will, so afraid that he immadiately repented of the plan that he had conceived so lightly. He joined those who sang the office of the dead and assisted in the funeral with the other brothers who were present at the monastery of Colombier.

(trans. James: 69, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Saint Patroclus died in 576, see [1761].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul
Gaul

City

Néris
Colombier

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Tours
Title: Life of the Fathers, Vita Patrum, Liber Vitae Patrum
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory of Tours (bishop of Tours in Gaul in 573-594) started writing his Life of the Fathers some time before 587 and finished it around 592 or slightly later, as shown by the cross-references to his other works. It is a collection of twenty Gallic saints` lives of different lengths. They all are in some way connected to Gregory`s family or church interests, while also exemplifying different virtues leading to sanctity. Saints presented in the Life of the Fathers are all either ascetics or bishops.

More on the text: James 1991: ix-xxv.

Edition:

B. Krusch ed., Gregorii Episcopi Turonensis Miracula et Opera Minora, Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 1.2, Hannover 1885, 211-294.

Translation:

Gregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers, trans. E. James, Liverpool 1991.

Categories:

Travel and change of residence

PR948.

Functions within the Church - Archpresbyter

PR948.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR948.

Ritual activity - Burying the dead

PR948.

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

PR948.

Relation with - Lower cleric

PR948.

Relation with - Monk/Nun

PR948.

Ritual activity - Praying for the dead

PR948.

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

PR948.

Ritual activity - Chanting

PR948.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER87, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=87