Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 89
Caluppa, a recluse living in the wilderness near Meallat (Gaul), is ordained deacon and presbyter by Bishop Avitus of Clermont, AD 571/573. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Life of the Fathers", Tours (Gaul), ca 590.
11.3
 
Caluppa was a monk in the monastery of Meallat (Monasterium Meletinse). Unable to work due to his severe fasting, he was ridiculed be fellow monks and decided to retire to the wilderness. He built an oratory in the valley near the aforementioned monastery (probably valley of Marlhoux) and spent days reading and in prayer. He was given supernatural power, with which he fought diabolic temptation and did many miracles.
 
Accessimus enim et nos ad locum cum beato Avito episcopo et omnia quae narravimus quaedam ab ipso relata cognovimus, quaedam oculis propriis inspeximus. A memorato autem pontifice diaconatus ac praesbiterii sortitus est gradum; multa populis diversis vexatos morbis remedia contulit. Nulli tamen cellulam egressus se praebuit contemplandum, nisi tantum per fenestellam extendens manum, salutare signaculum inponebat, et si a quoquam visitatus fuisset, ad hanc accedens speculam, orationem colloquiumque praebebat.
 
Gregory notes that Caluppa died in the fiftieth year of his life.
 
(ed. Krusch 1885: 255)
11.3
 
Caluppa was a monk in the monastery of Meallat (Monasterium Meletinse). Unable to work due to his severe fasting, he was ridiculed be fellow monks and decided to retire to the wilderness. He built an oratory in the valley near the aforementioned monastery (probably valley of Marlhoux) and spent days on reading and prayer. He was given supernatural power, with which he fought with diabolic temptation and did many miracles.
 
We [Gregory of Tours] met this man [Saint Caluppa] in this place, when we were in the company of the blessed Bishop Avitus. Everything we have related we have learned from the saint himself, and other things we have seen with our own eyes. He was ordained deacon and presbyter by the pontiff we have just named. He gave many salutary remedies to those who were assailed by different illnesses. Neverheless he never left his cell to show himself to anyone, but used to stretch his hand out of a small window to give his blessing with the sign of the cross; and if someone visited him he would approach the window and offer prayer or conversation.
 
Gregory notes that Caluppa died in the fiftieth year of his life.
 
(trans. James 1991: 79, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Ordination of Caluppa took place between 571, the year of Avitus' ascension to the bishopric, and 573, year of Gregory of Tours' promotion to bishopric of Tours. Year of Caluppa's death, i.e. 576, is known from Gregory of Tours' Histories 5.9.
 
The ordination of hermits to the presbyterate is attested by Gregory of Tours several times; see e.g. Winnocus [1772] and Patroclus [1763]. There could be a number of reasons for such an ordination, such as: 1) the opportunity for a bishop to have a holy person within his clergy; 2) to assume ecclesiastical control over him; 3) to make sure he does not leave the neighbourhood.

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Marlhoux valley
  • Méallet

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:

Former ecclesiastical career - Deacon
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Monastic or common life - Hermit
Act of ordination
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Devotion - Fasting
Devotion - Ascetic practice
Devotion - Reading the Bible and devotional literature
Devotion - Private devotional practice
Devotion - Supernatural experience
Pastoral activity - Spiritual direction
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER89, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=89