E00726: Victricius of Rouen lists the relics of saints already present in Rouen: *John the Baptist (S00020), the Apostles *Andrew (S00289) and *Thomas (S00199), *Gervasius and Protasius (martyrs of Milan, S00313), *Agricola (martyr of Bologna, S00310), *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017), and *Luke (the Evangelist, S00442). Account in Victricius' Praising the Saints, written in Latin, c.396 in Rouen (northern Gaul).

Victricius of Rouen, Praising the Saints 6

For a summary and discussion of the whole text, see E00717.


Victricius addresses the relics of saints sent to him from Milan, and tells them of the saints they will already find within the city (lines 32-37):

Hic inuenietis Iohannem Baptistam, illum, inquam, qui in stadio communi cruentus stetit, sed ad caelum coronatus ascendit, quem Dominus ipse inter natos mulierum autumat potiorem. Hic Andream, hic Thomam, hic Geruasium, hic Protasium, hic Agricolam, hic Eufemiam, quae quondam masculato animo sub percussore uirgo non palluit.

'You will find here John the Baptist, he, I say, who stood bloodstained in the common arena, but ascended crowned to heaven, he whom the Lord himself names as greatest among those born of women. Here you will find Andrew, here Thomas, here Gervasius, here Protasius, here Agricola, here Euphemia, who once, her soul made masculine, did not, though a virgin, pale before the executioner.'


Later in the chapter (lines 53-60) Victricius continues his address to the new saints:

A uobis ad uos uenistis. Hic reperietis quos circa Domini Iesu Christi altaria ministrantes. Porrectis brachiis uos Baptista Iohannes expectat. Vos Thomas, uos Andreas, Lucas et cetera multitudo caelestis parili uos desiderio in suum gremium uocat. Nullus uos nouus hospes excipiet. Hi sunt cum quibus militatis in caelo. Peculiaris tamen erit gratulatio, si iungantur reliquiis, qui sunt iuncti claritudine spiritali.

'You have come from yourselves to yourselves. Here you will find those you left ministering at the altars of the Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist waits for you with arms outstretched. Thomas, Andrew, Luke, and all the heavenly multitude call you to their embrace with equal longing. It is no new host who will receive you: these are they with whom you are soldiers in heaven. But there will be special thanksgiving if those who are joined in spiritual light are joined in relics.'


Text: Mulders and Demeulenaere 1985, 78-79. Translation: Clark 1999, 383-4.