Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1747
Presbyter Eufrasius from Clermont, son of the presbyter Evodius, tries unsuccessfully to become bishop of Clermont by sending gifts to King Sigebert, AD 571. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 573–594.
IV.35
 
Defuncto igitur, ut diximus, apud Arvernum Cautino episcopo, plerique in tendebant propter episcopatum, offerentes multa, plurima promittentes. Nam Eufrasius presbiter, filius quondam senatoris Euvodi, susceptas a Iudaeis species magnas regi per cognatum suum Beregisilum misit, ut scilicet, quod meritis optinere non poterat, praemiis optineret. Erat quidem elegans in conversatione, sed non erat castus in opere, et plerumque inebriabat barbaros, sed rare reficiebat egenos. Et credo, haec causa obstitit, ut non optineret, quia non per Deum, sed per homines adipisci voluit hos honores.
 
(ed. Krusch 1937: 167)
IV.35
 
Now, as we have said, Bishop Cautinus died in Clermont, and many put themselves forward for the episcopate, offering much and promising even more. The presbyter Eufrasius, son of the late senator Evodius, dispatched to the king by the hands of his relative Beregisilus many precious gifts which he had obtained from the Jews. He hoped to gain through gifts that which he could not earn on merit. He was pleasant to spend time with, but he was not chaste in his deeds. He often shared drinks with barbarians, but rarely helped the poor. I believe that this weighed against him obtaining [the episcopacy], since he wanted to secure for himself this position not with [the help of] God, but with [the help of] men.
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 229, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Bishop Cautinus of Clermont died during the plague that ravaged Auvergne in 571.
 
Evodius of Clermont was also serving as a presbyter, see [37].

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Clermont

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:

Social origin or status - Social elite
Social origin or status - Clerical family
Family life - Offspring
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour
Simony/Buying office
Economic status and activity - Indication of wealth
Patronage/Investiture
Relation with - Another presbyter
Relation with - Father/Mother
Relation with - Monarch and royal/imperial family
Relation with - Secular authority
Relation with - Barbarian
Relation with - Jew
Episcopal ambitions
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1747, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1747