De Revelatione Capitis Beati Joannis Baptistae Tractatus [Incertus]

A Treatise on the Revelation of the Head of the Blessed John the Baptist, by an Uncertain Author. I. Josephus relates that John the Baptist was led away in chains to the fortress of Macheronta, and that his head was cut off there; ecclesiastical history relates that he was buried in Sebaste, a city of the region of Palestine, which was once called Samaria. After a long time, however, pagans invaded his tomb, and scattered his bones over the plain of the field, and again gathering them up, burned them with fire, and afterwards cast the ashes over the fields. Later, however, certain monks, religious men, came from Jerusalem to the site of that same tomb, having heard what had befallen John, and gathering whatever they could of his bones, they brought them to their father Philip in Jerusalem, and he sent them with other religious men to Athanasius, the most faithful pontiff of Alexandria. There they were preserved in a wondrous manner, until the time of Theophilus, bishop of that same city. This Theophilus, by order of the Emperor Theodosius, destroyed all the temples of idols in that region, with Christ's favor, and built a church of wondrous size, and consecrated it in honor of the same Saint John the Baptist, and placed the bones which the aforementioned Athanasius had sent to him in that same church, with the neighboring pontiffs gathered there from all sides in a crowd, and with all orders of clergy and people, in a solemn manner.

Therefore, at the approach of the paschal feast, John the Baptist was beheaded, by order of the most wicked Herod, who commanded that his head be given to a dancing girl; and long after his beheading, when the year came in which a church was built in his name, and his bones were placed there by Bishop Theophilus, at the command of the Emperor Theodosius, it was consecrated in his honor on the fourth day before the Kalends of September. For his solemnity was marvelously consecrated at the dedication. His head, however, at that time was deposited in the place where Herod’s wife had hidden it in secret, with no one knowing, after she received it on a dish from her daughter. II. If anyone wishes to know all things more fully, let him read the Chronicle of the Prince Marcellinus; and there he will find that two monks came from the East to Jerusalem for the sake of prayer in the time of the Emperor Marcian. To these monks it was said in an angelic vision: “Go to the palace of Herod, who was once a treacherous prince here; enter and look carefully, and where you see smoke rising from the ground, digging there, you will without delay find the head of John the Baptist.” And so they did, and with great honor they secretly carried it away with them to Jerusalem.

And not long after, it was seized by bandits, who, taking it into a certain cave, left it there, until the same John, with Christ's help, revealed himself to a certain religious man, named Marcellus, a priest who dwelt as a hermit in that same cave, saying: "Take my head, which has been deposited in this cave by bandits, and carry it to Bishop Juranus, who now presides over the city of Alexandria after Theophilus, beloved of God, where the remains of my body rest." And so Marcellus did, with Christ's consent. On that same solemnity of the collection of the relics, of that translation and consecration of the church, the head of John the Baptist was brought to the city of Alexandria by the priest Marcellus, and given to Bishop Juranus, on the fourth day before the Kalends of September. And Juranus received it, placing it marvelously in that same place to be guarded forever. And therefore today's festivity is the collection of the relics of the blessed John the Baptist, not to be called the beheading, with Christ's consent, and the finding is thus the revelation of his head. And now that same man of the Lord, Bishop Juranus, and the priest Marcellus, have happily passed from this world to the Lord in peace.

III. As the years rolled by, not a few, a certain religious man, a priest and monk named Felix, who had come to Jerusalem from the western region in those days for the sake of prayer, was told in a vision by an angel: "Felix, arise quickly, and going to the city of Alexandria, you will find there a church consecrated in honor of Saint John the Baptist, where his head is hidden together with three little Innocents. Take it and transfer it to the regions of Gaul, in the territory of Aquitaine, to the place which I will show you." Certain of this vision and awakened, the venerable old man, filled with the greatest joy, went immediately where he had been ordered, and finding everything just as it had been told to him, he rendered countless thanks to the guide of his journey, and hastening to the place, he enclosed the treasure destined for him by God in the bosom of a single basket. And at once retracing his steps, joined by his seven brothers who had gone with him, and secretly traversing that entire region, he came to the seashore, where he found a ship with oars and rudders prepared by God. He boarded it with the treasure and pearls of great price. Therefore his brothers and companions, descending with him into the ship, giving thanks, blessing God with hymns and praises, sought the deep seas.

IV. And when he had begun to journey on the sea, Felix, raising his eyes, stretched his palms to heaven, saying: "Lord Jesus Christ, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that are in them, and who beholds the depth of the abyss, who walked upon the waves of the sea with dry feet, and raised Peter sinking with your hand, and freed Paul three times from shipwreck; free us from the great waves of this sea, so that living we may bless your name forever and ever. Also, Lord, deign to send your holy angel from the heavens, to be the guide of our journey, as once he was for our fathers, when you led them out of the land of Egypt with great strength and in your mighty hand; and lead us by a straight path to the desired place, to set the holy and precious pearls." V. While the blessed Felix was praying these and similar things, behold, a luminous cloud descended upon the ship, and from the midst of the cloud a dove came forth, white as snow, and remained immovable upon the stern of the ship, both by day and by night, until they reached the shores of the Ocean in the regions of Aquitaine. And when they realized they were not far from land, they turned aside to the port which is called Angoulême, which is situated in the district of Aunis. And there, going from the ship to the land, they rested for a little while.

Moving from that same place, after completing two miles, they found the bodies of the dead lying on the ground—namely, the king of the Vandals with his entire army, as I reckon, about twenty thousand men. For that same stiff-necked people had set out from their wandering by sea with a great fleet, and a violent wind fell upon them and carried them to the western regions, to the aforementioned port of Angoulême. And it was reported to King Pepin of Aquitaine that the Vandal people were invading his kingdom; and he sent word to all the territories of Aquitaine and Saintonge, as well as Angoulême, and to all their districts, that they should march against them and fight. For at that time King Pepin was staying in the Alnensis territory on the river Vultrona, at a palace called Engeriacum, between the borders of Poitou and Saintonge. Finally, when that same King Pepin met his enemies with a great multitude of armed men, the Lord granted a great deliverance to his entire army, so that none escaped from that multitude who was not cut down in the slaughter. And the aforementioned king, seeing that help from heaven had been granted him by the Lord, and vengeance upon his enemies—so that none of his army were diminished except twenty men whom he loved above the rest—taking them up, he placed each on a bier, joyful for the victory, sorrowful for the funerals of the lost, and recalled his army, desiring to return to his own lands.

VI. And when they were separated from this slaughter by about four miles, he orders tents to be set up; and, overcome by sleep, he commands a bed to be prepared in the pavilions. Then, as sleep pressed upon him from weariness, a divine voice was offered, saying to him: “Why has sluggish sleep so overcome you? Know that the head of the great John the Baptist is being brought from overseas regions from the East with three little Innocents to this village, and because of his merit, victory in this battle has been divinely granted to you by God.” And King Pepin replied in the vision, saying: “If such great benefits are active in me because of his merit, tell me what I should do, or how I will be able to investigate or find him.” And the divine voice replied, saying: “Behold, behind your back seven brothers follow you in the garb of pilgrims, and one who seems to preside over the others is called Felix. Go to meet them with a few men, and receive them kindly in humility of heart; and try to lead with you the most precious pearls peacefully, and you will see the great deeds of God.” But the man of the Lord Felix, having seen such a multitude of slain bodies, terrified by fear, yet trusting in the help of God, strengthens his companions and admonishes them to proceed a little further. And turning aside from the opposite direction, they set up a small dwelling for themselves, so that they might be able to remain in the same place until morning that night.

VII. The aforementioned King Pepin, awakening from sleep, began to ponder silently within himself what he should do about the vision he had seen, reflecting that wisdom lies in ancient things and in the prudence of many experienced men. And sending quickly, he ordered a prudent man, powerful in good works, named Felix, to be summoned, so that he might implore the Lord concerning such a manifest vision, that He might deign to suggest a salutary counsel to him. Therefore, by counsel it was found that, having removed their garments and sandals, walking with bare feet in ashes and sackcloth, just as they had been warned by divine oracle, they should proceed to meet the servants of God. And when they had caught sight of each other, prostrating themselves—both he himself and all who were present—they lay face down on the ground for so long until the servants of God reached the place where they lay. And when they had blessed the Lord and greeted one another, they gave the kiss of peace to each other. And raising themselves from the ground, they tearfully asked one another for what reason these things that they had seen and heard had happened. But the man of God, Felix, understanding that all had been revealed by God, recounted the histories of how he had gone to Jerusalem for the sake of prayer, and divine mercy had revealed to him the hidden treasure.

And when the prayer had been made and all had responded, "Amen," Felix, having raised up the most precious pearls—namely, the head of John the Baptist and the relics of his companions, the blessed Innocent martyrs—directs the choir with hymns and praises of those singing psalms. VII. Upon hearing this, the entire army that was in the camp, as one man, came forth to meet him, numbering thirty thousand men. And bearing with them the funeral rites of the dead who had fallen in battle, they sought help from heaven from the Lord through his forerunner John, that he might deign to manifest by divine grace whose relics were being carried; promising that they had such great faith that whatever was asked, Saint John, with the Lord's consent, could grant. And taking up the basket in which the head of blessed John the Baptist was contained, they placed it upon each bier, touching the dead. In a wondrous and inestimable manner, as soon as it touched the bones of the fallen, life was restored to the dead through the dead. And twenty-eight rose up that same hour from the funeral office, as swiftly as if they had been awakened from sleep; and those who were being carried by weeping friends for burial returned to life, to the joy of the same. Seeing the great deeds that the Lord had wrought around them through his forerunner John the Baptist, King Pepin and the entire army, clapping their hands, blessed the Lord, who works wonders in heaven and on earth.

The man of the Lord, Felix, and his companions, filled with joy, together with King Pepin and his army, lifting up the head of the blessed and most excellent forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, and the blessed Innocents, began to journey with joy and gladness. And since no delay occurred in their going, they arrived at a certain estate which is called Vultronia. And when they had rested there a little while, a certain blind man met them, who was immediately healed by the merits of the most blessed Forerunner. And when it pleased them to move on from that same place, they took up the journey along the road which leads to the marsh called Mathevallis. And when it pleased them to rest there a little while, behold, a man who was lame in his feet and could not raise himself up at all, dragging himself along, came forth to meet them. He, invoking the merit of blessed John, was restored to health, so that he walked firm and steady without pain among the crowds.

VIII. And as they were now approaching the place toward which they were heading, they arrived at the palace called Engeriacum on the river Vultronia. When all the people heard, from the greatest to the least, from man to woman, they all gathered together as one and went out to meet them. And when they had arrived there before the palace of King Pepin, they immediately placed it for safekeeping in the basilica of the most blessed and most glorious ever-Virgin Mary, with great fervor and zeal. And the whole people rejoiced with great joy, and they celebrated the solemnity of this day on the fourth day before the Kalends of September, and each one returned to his own dwelling. Then the blessed Felix and his companions, together with the venerable king, among other things besought the Lord that He might suggest to them a salutary plan as to where they should place the holy remains. And they built a basilica, and in it a hollow ciborium with six marble columns of wonderful workmanship, well arranged, not far from the bank of the Vultronia, but, as I think, one hundred stades away. In this, seasoning the head of the blessed John the Baptist, the nourishing forerunner of Christ, and the bodies of the three blessed Innocents together with aromatics and many sweet-smelling spices, they enclosed them in this ciborium, and sealed it with bitumen. And with the Lord’s help, this building was happily completed.

The same king also constructed a lead pipe aqueduct, which, running from nearly two miles away through the deepest underground channels to his palace, was introduced into the very basilica through iron and bronze, and there, beneath the ciborium, it bubbled up through a hollow marble column: there the ablution of sacred baptism would take place, and then it would be channeled back again to its original inlet. Therefore, King Pepin and the blessed Felix, summoning the pontiffs and priests and all the nobles of the region, blessing the church and dedicating it in honor of the same John the Baptist, consecrated it with wondrous rites, and endowed it nobly with the estates and possessions left to them by their ancestors. And after arranging all necessary matters, they established monks there to serve God in perpetuity; thereafter the Lord worked many miracles through his servant John the Baptist. Finally, setting an end to the narrative, let us pray to the immensity of Christ’s goodness, that He, supporting us with His mighty right hand, may lead us to the station of eternal rest—He who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit through all ages.