File(s) not publicly available
E00580: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (54), tells of relics of *Timotheus and Apollinaris (martyrs of Reims, S00329) being taken, from their burial place in Reims (north-east Gaul), to a new church dedicated in their honour; an attempt to grant a piece of the relics to an undeserving woman was miraculously thwarted. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
online resource
posted on 2015-06-01, 00:00 authored by mpignotGregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 54
Timotheus et Apollinaris, apud Remensium urbem consummato martyrio, caelestia regna meruerunt.
Quorum reliquias quidam, aedificata in eorum honore basilica, devotus expetiit. Pontifex vero qui aderat cum honore per presbiterum dirigit. Cumque iter ageret, mulier inportuna et, credo, indigna merito, in via procedit, salutatumque presbiterum, deosculat lenteo, quo sacrae tegebantur favillae; rogat sibi de his aliquid condonari. Tunc presbiter diu dubitans et tribuere differens, victus tandem ab inprobitate eius, divisit ei particulam. Ascendensque sonipem, iter expedire coepit iniunctum, sed percutiens utraque equi latera, nequaquam poterat promoveri; ipse vero ita gravatus erat, ut vix caput valeret eregere. Intellegens autem, martyrum se virtute teneri, paenitentia motus utiliter recepit, quod neglegentia intercedente largire praesumpsit; restitutumque in capsa quod abstulerat, abire permissus est.
'Timotheus and Apollinaris consummated their martyrdom in Reims and deserved [to enter] the heavenly kingdoms. After building a church in their honour, a pious man sought relics (reliquiae) of these martyrs. The current bishop arranged for a priest [to convey the relics] with honour. As the priest was travelling, an importunate and, I think, truly unworthy woman came down the road, greeted the priest, and kissed the linen cloth that covered the holy ashes (favillae). She asked that some of these relics be given to her. The priest hesitated for a long time and postponed giving [anything to her]. Finally he was overcome by her insistence and divided off a small piece for her. He mounted his horse and began to resume the journey that had been entrusted to him. But even though he spurred both flanks of his horse, he could not be moved forward at all; in fact, he was so weighed down that he could scarcely lift his head. The priest realized that he was bound by the power of the martyr. Motivated by remorse, he quickly retrieved what he had under the influence of negligence presumed to distribute. Once he returned to the reliquary (capsa) what had given away, he was allowed to proceed.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 75. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 53-54, lightly modified.
Timotheus et Apollinaris, apud Remensium urbem consummato martyrio, caelestia regna meruerunt.
Quorum reliquias quidam, aedificata in eorum honore basilica, devotus expetiit. Pontifex vero qui aderat cum honore per presbiterum dirigit. Cumque iter ageret, mulier inportuna et, credo, indigna merito, in via procedit, salutatumque presbiterum, deosculat lenteo, quo sacrae tegebantur favillae; rogat sibi de his aliquid condonari. Tunc presbiter diu dubitans et tribuere differens, victus tandem ab inprobitate eius, divisit ei particulam. Ascendensque sonipem, iter expedire coepit iniunctum, sed percutiens utraque equi latera, nequaquam poterat promoveri; ipse vero ita gravatus erat, ut vix caput valeret eregere. Intellegens autem, martyrum se virtute teneri, paenitentia motus utiliter recepit, quod neglegentia intercedente largire praesumpsit; restitutumque in capsa quod abstulerat, abire permissus est.
'Timotheus and Apollinaris consummated their martyrdom in Reims and deserved [to enter] the heavenly kingdoms. After building a church in their honour, a pious man sought relics (reliquiae) of these martyrs. The current bishop arranged for a priest [to convey the relics] with honour. As the priest was travelling, an importunate and, I think, truly unworthy woman came down the road, greeted the priest, and kissed the linen cloth that covered the holy ashes (favillae). She asked that some of these relics be given to her. The priest hesitated for a long time and postponed giving [anything to her]. Finally he was overcome by her insistence and divided off a small piece for her. He mounted his horse and began to resume the journey that had been entrusted to him. But even though he spurred both flanks of his horse, he could not be moved forward at all; in fact, he was so weighed down that he could scarcely lift his head. The priest realized that he was bound by the power of the martyr. Motivated by remorse, he quickly retrieved what he had under the influence of negligence presumed to distribute. Once he returned to the reliquary (capsa) what had given away, he was allowed to proceed.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 75. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 53-54, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E00580Saint Name
Timotheus and Apollinaris, martyrs at Reims (Gaul), ob.? : S00329Saint Name in Source
Timotheus, ApollinarisRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miracles Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related textsLanguage
- Latin