The Presbyters Project

13.3

Et fortassis quorundam incredibilium latratus de his conatur obstrepere, noverit, a me visum Deodatum presbiterum, summam octogenarii aevi ferentem, qui mihi haec, ut scripta sunt, contulit, confirmans sacramento, nihil se de his admixto mendatio enarrasse.

(ed. Krusch 1885: 267)

13.3

And perhaps some doubters will try to object to what we have said. But they should know that I have seen the presbyter Deodatus, who is eighty years old, and he has told me the things which I have written here, declaring under oath that everything is the absolute truth.

(trans. James 1991: 89, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Deodatus was probably a presbyter in the villages near Lupicinus' hermitage, since he knew the saint so well. Both vicus Berberensis qui nunc Lipidiaco dicitur (probably Dompierre-sur-Besbre or Loubie) and vicus Transaliensis (Trézelles) might be considered. These villages are located northeast of Vichy.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

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:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR76.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR76.

Age

PR76.

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

PR76.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER91, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=91