Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 109
Venantius, abbot and presbyter in Tours (Gaul), visits the tomb of the presbyter Passivus and learns about the nature of Passivus` merits and his heavenly joy, before 507. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Life of the Fathers", Tours (Gaul), ca 590.
16.2
 
Sed et ad Passivi presbiteri tumulum veniens, et qualiter eius meriti et quantitatem refrigerii, ipso docente, cognovit.
 
(ed. Krusch 1885: 276)
16.2
 
It was also given to him [Venantius], when he visited the tomb of the presbyter Passivus, to learn from him the nature of his [Passivus'] merits and the amount of his heavenly joy.
 
(trans. James 1991: 101)

Discussion:

The terminus ante quem of Venantius' presbyterial activity is the year 507, when Licinius, who succeeded him in abbacy, became bishop of Tours. Thus Venantius was probably active in the last quarter of the 5th century.
 
Passivus most probably served as a presbyter in Tours, and was also buried in this city.

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:

Burial/Funerary inscription
Functions within the Church - Urban presbyter
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Monastic or common life - Monastic superior (abbot/prior)
Fame of sanctity
Ritual activity - Burying the dead
Relation with - Another presbyter
Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics
Devotion - Supernatural experience
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER109, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=109