E02387: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.29), gives an account of the life, miracles and death, in 591, of *Aredius (monk of Limoges, S00302). He builds churches to unnamed saints (S00518), provides them with relics, and founds a monastery near Limoges (western Gaul). Gregory describes several of his miracles, and refers to his own writings for further miracles of Aredius, performed through the power of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035) and *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050); he bequeaths his possessions to the churches of Martin in Tours and *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183) in Poitiers; three women are cured at his funeral. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 10.29

Summary:

[In this long chapter Gregory describes the life, the miracles and the death (in 591) of Aredius, an abbot from Limoges, whom he knew well and greatly admired (as is clear from many references in Gregory's work).]

Aredius was born in the territory of Limoges, but moved to eastern Francia to serve King Theudebert. He then left royal service to become a disciple of *Nicetius (bishop of Trier, ob. c. 565, S01305); in this period, a clear sign of his sanctity was given when a dove repeatedly flew down and settled on his head or shoulders.

On the death of his father and brother, Aredius returned to the Limousin to console his mother, *Pelagia (ascetic of Limoges, ob. c. 586) [In Glory of the Confessors 102, $E02765, she is presented as a saint; but not here in the Histories.] He built churches to the saints, and collected relics for them; he founded a monastery in the Limousin [Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche]. He restored to health all the sick who visited him, by making the sign of the cross on each with his hand.

During a pilgrimage to the church of Julian in Brioude he miraculously produced water from the ground; on another occasion he stayed dry by parting the rain-clouds; he cured a citizen of Tours of a terrible toothache. Gregory refers to his books of the miracles of Julian and of Martin. (For further miracles performed by these two saints through the hands of Aredius see $E02551, $E03217, $E3542).

Aredius came to Tours shortly after the feast of Martin (4th July) and visited Martin's tomb; on leaving he predicted his own death. He returned to his monastery and bequeathed his possessions to the churches of Martin in Tours and Hilary in Poitiers. Then he fell ill. On the sixth day of his illness, a possessed woman whom he had so far been unable to cure, proclaimed that a number of saints had assembled for the passing of Aredius (see $E02388). Aredius dies, and at his burial the possessed woman and a fellow sufferer are both cured. After the ceremony, a woman who was dumb is cured when she kisses his tomb.

Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 522-525. Summary: Katarzyna Wojtalik.