Opera Sancto Gregorio Episcopo Turonensi Attributa

The works attributed to Saint Gregory, Bishop of Tours. Preface of Saint Gregory, Bishop of Tours, to the Book of the Miracles of the Blessed Apostle Andrew. (From a manuscript codex of the monastery of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.) I believe that the renowned triumphs of the holy apostles are unknown to none of the faithful, because some of them are taught by the Gospel lessons, and some are related in the Acts of the Apostles. For certain of them, moreover, books exist in which their own deeds are recorded; concerning many, however, we have received nothing other than written accounts of their passions. For I came upon a book about the miracles of the holy apostle Andrew, which, on account of its excessive verbosity, was called apocryphal by some. Concerning this, it seemed good that, after the miracles had been reviewed and sifted, with those things that generated disgust set aside, the wondrous miracles should be enclosed in but one small volume, which would both bestow grace upon its readers and remove the ill-will of its detractors. For inviolate faith does not require a multitude of verbosity, but integrity of reason and purity of mind.

Here begins the text of the miracles themselves. Therefore, after that noble and glorious triumph of the Lord’s Ascension, when the blessed apostles had been scattered to preach the word of God throughout various regions, the apostle Andrew began to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ in the province of Achaia. The apostle Matthew, however, who is also an evangelist, announced the word of salvation to the city of Mirmidona, etc., much as in the commonly known book of Abdias, Book III of the Apostolic History. It did not seem fitting to reproduce that entire book here. It will suffice to present here the list of chapters, as it is found in the manuscript codex, together with the two final chapters in their entirety; in the first of these, the death of the apostle is briefly set forth, which is narrated somewhat more fully by Abdias, and in the second, it speaks of the oil flowing from the same saint’s tomb, which Abdias does not have. All these are concluded with a brief epilogue by Gregory. Here begin the chapters of the book on the miracles of the blessed apostle Andrew.

Chapter 1. Concerning the Apostle Matthew, and what was done in Mirmidonia. Therefore after that, etc., as above. Chapter 2. Concerning a blind man who was given sight. Andrew, however, departing from that place, came into his own region, and as he was walking about, etc. Chapter 3. Concerning a boy who was raised from the dead. Demetrius, however, the chief man of the city of the Amaseans, etc. Chapter 4. Concerning Sostratus, a boy against whom his mother had brought a charge. A certain boy, Sostratus by name, etc. Chapter 5. Concerning Gratianus and his son and his wife. Gratianus of Sinope, his son [Cotb., Gratini; Ed., Cratini... his son], etc. Chapter 6. Concerning seven demons expelled from Nicaea. After this he sets out for Nicaea, where there were, etc. [Ed., sets out for Nicaea in Asia where there were, etc.] He established there a bishop by the name of Caelestis. [Colb. and Ed., Calistus.] Chapter 7. Concerning a dead man raised to life. Finally, approaching the bridge of Nicomedia. Chapter 8. Concerning the calming of a disturbance of the sea. The Apostle, having departed from there and entered the Hellespontine strait, was sailing so that he might come to Byzantium, etc.

Chapter 9. Concerning the brigands who were stupefied. Thence proceeding, they came to Thrace, etc. Chapter 10. Concerning those who believed in the ship. The holy Apostle arrived at Berintum, a city of Thrace, and found there a ship which was hastening to Macedonia, etc. [Colb., Berintum; Editions, to Perinthus, a maritime city of Thrace, so that he might cross by ship into Macedonia, etc.] Chapter 11. Concerning the marriage of the boys. There were two men in Philippi, brothers. Chapter 12. Concerning Exiios and his parents. There was a certain young man in Thessalonica, named Exohus [Colb., Exuus; Editions, Exoos], etc. Chapter 13. Concerning the crippled son of Carpianus. Moreover, a young man begged the blessed Apostle that they might set out together for Thessalonica, etc. [Editions, Therefore, when he had tarried for a long time at Thessalonica, etc.] Chapter 14. Concerning the dead man who was raised. One of the citizens, etc. [Editions, And another of the citizens approached, etc.]

Chapter 15. Concerning the son of Media, and his boys, and other sick persons healed. A certain man from Philippi, Media, came to him, etc. Chapter 16. Concerning the weak son of a certain woman. Finally, a certain Nicholas, etc. Chapter 17. Concerning the demon expelled. On the following day, etc. Chapter 18. Concerning Vtrinus the proconsul, and his son, and a woman raised from the dead. While these things were being done, etc. [The proconsul is called Virious in the Colb. manuscript, as in our German manuscript; in the Edition, Quirinus.] Chapter 19. Concerning the serpent killed, and a dead man raised. These things having been done, etc. Chapter 20. Concerning the revelation of the passion of the blessed Apostle. On the following night, etc. Chapter 21. Concerning the man who fell into the sea. Many from Macedonia, etc., were driven to the city of Patras in Achaia, etc. Chapter 22. Concerning Lisbius the proconsul and his faith. Finally, when many were asking him, etc. Chapter 23. Concerning Trofima and the wife of the proconsul. Therefore Trofima, who, etc.

CHAPTER 24. Concerning many who were raised from the dead. After the walk, however, etc. CHAPTER 25. Concerning the difficult childbirth of a certain woman. There was a woman, Caliopa by name, who, joined to a murderer, had conceived an illicit child... and could not bring forth the birth, etc. CHAPTER 26. Concerning Sostratus and his servant. [In the Colbertinus and the Edition it is called Sostratus.] While he was performing many signs... in Corinth, etc. CHAPTER 27. Concerning the demoniacs healed at the bath. After a few days, however. CHAPTER 28. Concerning the old man Nicolaus. While these things were happening, behold a certain man, etc. * CHAPTER 29. Concerning Antiphanes and his wife and servants. While he was staying in that place, Antiphanes, a citizen of Megara, came to him. [Colbertinus, Anliphanis.... Megarensis. Edition, While these things were happening at Corinth... Antiphanes, a citizen of Megara.] CHAPTER 30. Concerning Maximilla, the wife of the proconsul Aegeas. The blessed Apostle came to Patras, etc. CHAPTER 31. Concerning the healed debtor. Thence descending, etc. [Colbertinus, Thence departing. Edition, And having gone out of the house, etc.]

CHAPTER 32. Concerning three blind men who were given sight. Having departed, however, into another place, etc. CHAPTER 33. Concerning a withered man restored to health. Seeing these signs, however, a certain man, etc. [Ed., While these things were happening at Patras.] CHAPTER 34. Concerning the boy of Stratocles, brother of the proconsul. While such things were being done at Patras by the blessed Apostle, Stratocles came, etc. [Colb., Stratocles. Ed., From Italy, Stratocles, etc.] CHAPTER 35. Concerning the proconsul turned back from his journey. Every day, however, etc. CHAPTER 36. Concerning the passion of the holy Apostle. After this, the blessed Apostle was seized by the proconsul Aegeas and placed in prison, where all gathered to hear the word of salvation. And he did not cease to preach the word of God night and day. After a few days had passed, he was led out of prison, severely beaten, and hung upon a cross. On this cross, while he hung alive for three days, he did not cease to preach the Lord and Savior, until on the third day, with the people streaming by, he breathed his last. The reading of his passion also declares this most fully. His blessed body, received by Maximilla, was placed in a tomb, embalmed with spices, and she, constantly praying over him to the Lord, entreated that her blessed Apostle might be mindful of her.

CHAPTER 37. Concerning the miracle of his tomb. From this tomb, manna in the form of flour, and oil with a most sweet fragrance, flows forth; by this, the fertility of the present year is shown to the inhabitants of that region. If it flows forth sparingly, the earth yields a meager fruit; but if it has flowed forth abundantly, a great abundance of fruits is provided. For they report that this oil flows as far as the middle of the holy basilica, as we wrote in the first book of Miracles (Chapter 31). We have not pursued the order of his passion, because we found this to have been very usefully and elegantly written by a certain person. CHAPTER 38. Epilogue of the writer making an end. These, however, are the things concerning the miracles of the blessed Apostle which I, unworthy in speech, rustic in language, and perverse in conscience, have presumed to make known. But I beseech his mercy, that just as I came forth from my mother's womb on his birthday, so by his intercession I may be rescued from hell; and just as I took up the beginning of this life on the day of his passion, so he may deign to claim me as his own disciple. And because a great part of wrongdoing calls us back from greater merits, I only presume to ask this rashly, that when, after the judgment, he has shone in glory, conformed to the Lord's body, he may at least obtain for me, from my immense crimes, even a pardon not to be denied.

Here begins the preface of Gregory, bishop of Tours, on the passion of the holy martyr Julian. Great within us, etc., as above, column 847, we might be heard. Thus also the renowned martyr Julian, who, born in the city of Vienne, was given as a martyr to the Arverni, was kindled by this fire, desired these things and longed for them with his whole mind. Concerning his deeds and miracles, it is fitting to explain a few things in a historical style. But while a succinct discourse approaches the abundant work of an illustrious contest, I beg that pardon be granted to me, who will touch upon only a few things, as I have said, because I know myself to be either insufficient or unskilled for narrating these things, and neither imbued with grammatical arts nor educated in liberal letters. But what then? I do what the love of my patron compels me to do, so that I cannot be silent about these things? I shall therefore approach it as best I can, because before God I do not think that more is required from the contests of the saints than that they have conquered; nor that they have run a great deal, but that they have completed the course they set out upon. For although he himself acknowledges the struggles and victories of the persevering as pertaining to his own praise, nevertheless he prepares similar crowns for those who conquer, whether in a short or a long battle.

Therefore it matters not by what monuments the brave deeds of the triumphant are made known, or the order of venerable things is committed to memory, provided that, just as the celestial athlete’s struggle under the gaze of the divine rewarder is depicted by heavenly history in everlasting letters to be proclaimed, so for the sake of imitation by posterity in following the faith of the Christian religion, a faithful discourse may run through that same struggle. Here begins the Passion of the Holy Martyr Julian. The holy Julian, then, born in the city of Vienne, was given as a martyr to the Arverni: illustrious indeed in lineage, and not a little adorned with probity of character, but, what is greater, vehemently kindled with the fire of heavenly love. The blessed Ferreolus, however, at the time of the consular Crispinus, already a soldier of Christ, though not yet betrayed, was discharging the office of tribunician power in the aforesaid city, in habit but not in heart, in appearance but not in affection. To him, clearly, the holy Julian, now of adult age, soon to be his colleague in heaven, by divine providence offered solace in the world. For they, placed together in the comradeship of temporal military service, loved each other more by zeal for the faith than by military embrace, and amid public labors a holy love had bound them together with faithful bonds of the society of the saints.

Moreover, since the relentless fury of the pagans had armed itself with constant persecutions against the race of Christians dear to God, and, resisting the immortal husbandman, strove with hostile hand to tear out by the roots the burgeoning vine of the new plantation; just as the madness of the impious ranged through various parts of the world with the cunning, insatiable sword of cruelty, it is announced, rumor spreading, that it was approaching the city of Vienne as well. Therefore, since there was no doubt that the distinguished worshiper of Christ, Julianus, burning with love for martyrdom, would in no way allow himself to be hidden, the blessed Ferreolus began to act in every way so that, before the rage of the persecutors reached that place, the aforementioned man of God would depart secretly, and, surviving for the comfort of the remaining Christians, would for a while avoid the onslaught of the raging madness. He urges this with advice, he entreats this with prayers. But he, since he was endowed with the virtue of temperance, although he had long thirsted for the contest of martyrdom with all the affection of his heart, nevertheless did not delay in obeying the friendly admonitions. For he saw that he would not have accomplished this without a divine command, since at that time the persecution was raging in the city of Vienne. For he had read that the Lord had commanded: "If you are persecuted in this city, flee to another" (Matthew 10:23). For he feared that his parents might meet him if he entered into this contest among them; and the soldier of Christ would lose the crown of glory if he did not fight lawfully.

Having gathered all these things within himself, he abandoned his own possessions and, burning with love for Christ alone, he disregarded his carnal affections. Following the advice of the blessed Ferreolus, he departed secretly and, turning aside into the territory of the city of Arverna, he decided to hide nowhere else but in the vicus of Brivas, where the dirges of fanatical error were celebrated. Hence it is clear that he had not fled from the city of Vienna out of fear of death, but rather for this reason: to fulfill Christ's precept of fleeing from city to city, and, having spurned both his possessions and his relatives, to run more freely the desired course of the contest. Moreover, Crispinus the consular, having learned that the holy man, fleeing by secret departure, was hiding in the territory of the city of Arverna, immediately gave a deadly order that wherever he was found, the pursuing persecutor should kill him. And indeed he, according to the madness of your fury, by which he was headlong in rushing against the blood of the saints, was dictating concerning the death of the blessed Julian. But it was brought about by the hidden dispensation of God that he both heaped up for himself a pile of damnation and that the glorious martyr would quickly arrive at Christ, as he had long desired. Therefore, the lictor, hastening, when in the place called Vinicella he contemplated the blessed Julian with a following gaze, the latter entered a hut to hide, as if concealing himself from some old men.

But because he perceived that he was pursuing his adversaries by God’s will, and since God, who had prepared his ascent to heaven, was now calling him, he was no longer permitted to delay by any detour. He immediately demanded to be exposed, even though the elders were vying to conceal him. As they hesitated and delayed, and he was being assailed by the threatening terror of the intruders, lest any danger befall those who excused themselves, he suddenly leaped outside and said: “Whom do you seek? Whom do you ask? Behold, I am here before you. Turn your swords against me; give me now the punishments you desire. Take the commanded torments from me. Let the shedding of innocent blood by no means ascribe the guilt of your apostasy to patience.” But when they stood stupefied at such constancy of the blessed martyr, he, even more steadfast, immediately added: “I wish to delay no longer in this world, for I thirst for Christ with all the eagerness of my soul. Behold, I come to meet you; I submit my head without fear. You have what you sought with all your mind; only deliver the blows, and fulfill your devotion and my desire.” And with such a confession, the most blessed man, striving to consecrate his soul by martyrdom, also added a religious prayer and commended himself to Christ. But the barbaric savagery and the bloodthirsty minds of the maddened were not turned from the shedding of innocent blood by the constancy of his pious purpose, nor by such remarkable confidence in his self-offering; rather, with a drawn sword brandished by a trembling right hand, they struck at his neck.

The holy head, however, with the throat cut through, severed and cast into a spring which by chance flows forth near the place of the spilled blood, the executioners wash; and because the mind of the persecutors, even after the murder was accomplished, burning as it were insatiably, knew not how to spare, leaving the trunk of the body, they carry that head, which the parricidal hands had washed, to Saint Ferreolus; so that he might not doubt the head which he saw cut off by the sword, truth bearing witness, and might recognize that he himself would receive in death what he perceived in the body through his passion. All this the executioners did unknowingly according to divine will, namely that the spring, sprinkled with sacred blood, might become a future salvation for many, and that the precious saints of God, whom a military company had joined together, might likewise there retain the fellowship of burial. For just as he is no less in heaven by any distinction, so he is joined in the tomb with the greatest and principal part of the body. How happily the most blessed man, and with how swift a step, did he merit to attain the highest pinnacle! For suddenly, with eager progress, fighting for Christ, a raw recruit became a veteran of meritorious service! What zealous fellow soldiers scarcely obtain after a long time and much labor, the promised reward for victors, this strong warrior obtained in a brief conflict, about to receive the wages of immortality; he equated untrained beginnings with victorious authority, with the renowned boundaries of the saints.

Thus, just as the patience of the martyr is to be proclaimed as consecrated, so the profane atrocity of the persecutors having been accomplished, the glorious soldier is divided, so to speak, into three parts. For the head is brought to Vienna, the body is conveyed from the place where he was struck to Brivas, and the blessed soul is received by Christ the Creator. But the most blessed elders who, kindled with spiritual grace, had committed the sacrosanct body to burial, were so restored that, placed in extreme old age, they were strengthened with the vigor of youth, so that they were regarded as young men. Here, therefore, this martyr and witness of Christ, carefully interred in the same place, is venerated daily with the joyful devotion of the faithful; where so many benefits and miracles are constantly wrought that human speech is by no means sufficient to recount them. In that place, moreover, where the blessed martyr was struck, there is a spring, splendid, gentle, and most abundant with sweet waters, in which the severed head was washed by the persecutors; from these waters many healings are granted to the sick. For often the eyes of the blind, touched by these waters, have been illuminated; those afflicted with tertian or quartan fevers, when they have drunk, are calmed. And if anyone laboring under a grave infirmity, with the martyr inspiring him, has had the desire to drink, as soon as he has drunk he recovers, and the force of the fevers is so quickly extinguished, as if you were to see all fires quenched by water thrown upon a vast pyre.

For always, by the grace of so great a patron, the people rejoice in the granted fervor of supplication; and those whom that place receives in sorrow, it sends back joyful, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is honor, power, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.