The Presbyters Project

44.

Quae postquam gesta sunt, misit supradictus Aredius clericum suum, dicens: "Vade," inquit, "ad beati Iuliani basilicam et, fundens orationem, supplica ut tibi aliquid cerae vel pulveris de sepulcro iacentis largiri dignentur aeditui, ut delatum a<d> me cum benedictione suscipatur."

Aredius' cleric receives the relics successfully and, on his way back to Limoges, heals a demoniac with a casket containing the relics.

(ed. de Nie 2015: 404-406, summarised by J. Szafranowski)

44.

After these events, the aforementioned Aredius sent his cleric off, saying to him: "Go to the basilica of the blessed Julian and, after pouring forth a prayer, beg the custodian (aedituus) that some wax or dust lying around the tomb be given to you, so that it may be brought to me and received with a blessing."

Aredius' cleric receives the relics successfully and, on his way back to Limoges, heals a demoniac with a casket containing the relics.

(trans. de Nie 2015: 405-407, summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Aredius founded a monastery in Limoges and was active in the second half of the sixth century (d. 591). He also visited Brioude himself to collect relics of Saint Julian for the basilica of Saint Julian he founded in Limoges [1979], and sent the same or different cleric (likely a monk from his monastery) on a separate occasion [1975].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours
Limoges
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:

Travel and change of residence

PR902.

Described by a title - Clericus

PR902.

Monastic or common life - Cenobitic monk

PR902.

Monastic or common life - Monastic superior (abbot/prior)

PR881.

Ritual activity - Exorcism

PR902.

Relation with - Another presbyter

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

Devotion - Supernatural experience

PR902.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1980, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1980