Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1728
Presbyter Cato assumes episcopal control over the church of Clermont after the death of Bishop Gallus, AD 551. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 573-594.
IV.5
 
Cum autem ab hoc mundo migrasset et ablutus in ecclesia deportatus fuisset, Cato presbiter continuo a clericis de episcopatu laudes accepit; et omnem rem ecclesiae, tamquam si iam esset episcopus, in sua redegit potestate, ordinatores removet, ministros respuit, cuncta per se ordinat.
 
(ed. Krusch 1937: 138-139)
IV.5
 
When [Saint Gallus, Bishop of Clermont] departed from this world, [his body] was washed and carried into the church. A presbyter called Cato at once received the nomination to the episcopate of the local clergy, and he assumed control of all church property as if he were already inducted as bishop, replacing the church administrators (ordinatores), dismissing the ministers (ministros), and ordering everything on his own authority.
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 200, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

According to Gregory of Tours (Life of the Fathers 6.5) and Venantius Fortunatus (Carmen 4.4), Gallus died on 14th of May 551.

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Paris

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
Usurping episcopal power
Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property
Relation with - Another presbyter
Relation with - Deacon
Relation with - Lower cleric
Episcopal ambitions
Ecclesiastical administration - Overseeing clergy and Church staff
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1728, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1728