Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
Search Presbyter Records
Search Evidence Records
Print:
ID
ER 11
Proculus, presbyter in Clermont (Gaul), seizes power over the goods of the Church of Clermont from bishop Quintianus, ca 515/524. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Life of the Fathers", Tours (Gaul), ca 590.
4.1
 
Denique cum sanctus Quintianus in antedicta urbe potiretur episcopatum, Proculus quidam ex aerario presbiter ordinatus, multas ei iniurias intulit, omnemque potestatem illi de rebus eclesiae auferens, vix ei cotidianum et satis tenuem victum ministrare praecepit; sed per eius orationem a civibus correptus prudentioribus, restituta omni potestate, se ab eius removit insidiis. Antedictus tamen sacerdos non inmemor iniuriae, sicut quondam Paulus apostolus de Alexandro, ita et hic de Proculo decantabat, dicens: "Proculus aerarius multa mala mihi fecit, reddat illi Dominus secundum opera sua". Quod in posterum ei evenisse manifestum est.
 
(ed. Krusch 1885: 225)
4.1
 
Then, when St Quintianus was bishop in this town, a certain Proculus, a man employed in the public finances who had subsequently been ordained presbyter, did him many injuries: he took from him all power of the church and left him scarcely enough from which to find his daily sustenance. But Quintianus pleaded with the wiser of the citizens, and all his authority was restored and he was able to protect himself from further attacks. Nevertheless, remembering the injuries which he had received, he spoke as the apostle Paul did after injuries from Alexander, saying "Proculus the publican has done us much ill; the Lord will deal with him according to his deeds". And in the end this did indeed happen.
 
(trans. James 1985: 23)

Discussion:

Proculus is punished with death for his wrongdoings against Quintianus, see [15] and [1717].

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Clermont

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 are all 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
Usurping episcopal power
Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property
Public functions and offices before ordination
Administration of justice - Administration of justice
Conflict
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Livelihood/income
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER11, https://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=11
Record by: Jerzy Szafranowski
last edited: 2019-03-06 23:54:09
Contact
Privacy policy
FAQ
About the project
Team