The Presbyters Project

V.5

Quo abeunte, iterum Lingonici Silvestrum, propinquum vel nostrum vel beati Tetrici, episcopum expetunt. Sed ut eum peterent, fratris mei hoc instinctu fecerunt. Interea transeunte beato Tetrico, hic, tonso capite, presbiter ordinatur, accepta omni potestate de rebus ecclesiae. Qui vero, ut benedictionem episcopalem Lugduno accipiat, iter parat. Quae dum aguntur, ipse, quia iam diu epilenticus erat, ab hoc morbo correptus, asperius ex sensu factus et per dies duos assiduae dans mugitum, tertia die spiritum exalavit.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 201)

V.5

Since [Mundericus] was gone [see [1751]], the citizens of Langres asked for Silvester, the relative of ours and of blessed Tetricius [sick bishop of Langres] to be their bishop. They were encouraged by my brother Peter [deacon from Langres] to do so. When blessed Tetricius died, Silvester, having his head tonsured, was ordained presbyter and assumed power of all of the Church property. He made preparations to travel to Lyon to obtain the episcopal blessing. Meanwhile, as he was an epileptic for some time already, he was struck with this disease. He lost more and more control of himself and, having moaned for two days constantly, he gave up his spirit on the third day.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 260-261, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Deacon Peter, accused of murdering Silvester, is freed of this charge by Bishop Nicetius of Lyon, who died in 573; Silvester's death took place before that year and shortly after the events presented in [1751], most probably around AD 568/570.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Langres
Lyon
Tonnerre
Alès

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

PR789.

Social origin or status - Clerical family

PR789.

Food/Clothes/Housing - Hairstyle

PR789.

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR789.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR789.

Reasons for ordination - Pastoral needs of the Christian community

PR789.

Attributes of clerical status

PR789.

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

PR789.

Relation with - Deacon

PR789.

Former ecclesiastical career - None

PR789.

Further ecclesiastical career - None

PR789.

Reasons for ordination - Patronage

PR789.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1754, https://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1754