Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1971
Publianus, archpresbyter in charge of the basilica of Saint Julian in Brioude, heals a blind man with the power of Saint Julian, the second quarter of the sixth century. Account of Gregory of Tours, "The Miracles of the Martyr Julian", Tours (Gaul), AD 573/585.
22.
 
A man appears to a blind man in a dream, telling him that he could be healed in Brioude, given that he prays devoutly.
 
Qui post completam orationem archipresbyterum qui tunc locum ipsum regebat, nomine Publianum, adivit, supplicans ut oculis caecis Christi crucem imponeret. Erat enim valde religiosus. Quod ille, dum iactantiam evadere cupit evitans, tenetur a caeco, nec omnino dimittitur, nisi quae petebat adimpleret. Tunc ille prostratus ante sepulcrum diutissime martyris est suffragium deprecatus; deinde, admotam oculis caecis manum, protinus ut signum crucis imposuit, visum iste recepit.
 
Becco is then punished by Saint Julian.
  
(ed. de Nie 2015: 358, summarised by J. Szafranowski)
22.
 
A man appears to a blind man in a dream, telling him that he could be healed in Brioude, given that he prays devoutly.
 
After he had finished his prayer, he approached the archpresbyter, named Publianus, who was then governing the place, and asked him to make the sign of the Christ's cross upon his blind eyes, for Publianus was very pious. When the archpresbyter refused because he wished to avoid pride, he was seized by the blind man, who would not let him go until he agreed to do what had been asked. Then prostrating himself before the tomb, Publianus prayed at length for the martyr's intercession; at last, after he had raised his hand to the blind eyes, the man received his sight at the very moment that the sign of the cross was applied.
 
(trans. de Nie 2015: 359, summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Gregory started the next caput of his work with the words "at that time my uncle Gallus was bishop of the city of Clermont", which suggests that Publianus was active during the episcopate of Gallus (525/526–551).

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Brioude

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Tours
Title: The Miracles of the Martyr Julian, The Suffering and Miracles of the Martyr Saint Julian, De passione, virtutibus et gloria sancti Iuliani martyris, Virtutes sancti Iuliani
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
It seems that Gregory of Tours (Gaul) started to collect the stories of Julian`s miraculous interventions and his sanctuary at Brioude since the very beginning of his ecclesiastical career. In the second chapter of "The Miracles of Saint Julian" (Virtutes sancti Iuliani), Gregory mentions his journey to Brioude while still serving as deacon in Lyon. This is not surprising, as Brioude lies just some sixty kilometres south of Gregory`s hometown, Clermont. Julian maintained his position as a very important saint to Gregory after his episcopal ordination. During Gregory`s episcopate, Julian`s relics were brought to Tours and a basilica was built there in his name. By cross-reference, Raymond Van Dam proved that Gregory had finished his book on Julian`s miracles in the early 580s (Van Dam 1993: 162-163).
Recently, Giselle de Nie proposed a new edition of "The Miracles" which combines the earlier editions by Ruinart, Bordier, and Krusch. She normalised the spelling and punctuation, and provided a new translation "that stays as close as possible to the author`s train of thought" (de Nie 2015: xxv).
Edition:
Gregory of Tours, Lives and Miracles, ed. and trans. G. de Nie, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 39, Cambridge, MA and London 2015, pp. 299-419.
 
Translation:
Gregory of Tours, The Suffering and Miracles of the Martyr St. Julian, trans. R. Van Dam, in: R. Van Dam, Saints and their Miracles in Late Antique Gaul, Princeton 1993, pp. 162-195.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Archpresbyter
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Fame of sanctity
Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property
Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1971, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1971