E02711: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (79), tells of the discovery and translation of the body of *Ursinus (first bishop of Bourges, S01294) that was buried under a vineyard. Its primary discoverer was Agustus, who had first built an oratory at Brives (near Bourges, central Gaul) to *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), where relics of the saint cured him of severe disability, and had then become abbot of the church of *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322) just outside Bourges, built by Bishop Probianus. Ursinus appeared to Agustus in a vision and asked him to look for his tomb, but Probianus dismissed the story; Ursinus appeared again, this time also to *Germanus (bishop of Paris, ob. 576, S01166), who was visiting Bourges; the tomb and uncorrupt body were found. Ursinus' sarcophagus was lifted and brought to the church, entering it with the help of the saint, who performs miracles there. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Confessors 79

Bituriga vero urbs primum a sancto Ursino, qui a discipulis apostolorum episcopus ordinatus in Galliis distinatus est, verbum salutis accepit atque eclesiam Biturigis primum instituit rexitque. Qui migrans a saeculo, in campo inter reliqua sepulchra populorum sepulturae locatus est. Non enim adhuc populus ille intellegebat sacerdotes Domini venerare eisque reverentiam debitam exhibere. Unde factum est, ut, increscente terra, plantata desuper vinea omnem memoriam de primo urbis sacerdote convelleret, et usque ad tempus illud quod Probianus episcopus urbis eius est subrogatus nullus de eo sermo haberetur.
Fuit autem quidam Agustus nomine de domo Desiderati quondam episcopi, cuius manus ac pedes ita contraxerunt, ut se non aliter nisi de geniculis atque cubitis sustentaretur, si alicubi processurus vellet incedere. Hic, inspirante Deo, de elymosinis devotorum apud Brivas vicum in honore sancti ac beatissimi Martini antestitis oratorium aedificavit; cuius cum in eo reliquias detulisset, statim directis membris sanus effectus est. Deinde collectis secum paucis monachis, sub regula monasterii degens, semper in oratione vacabat.
Unde factum est, ut in sequenti arcersitus ab episcopo, abba ordinaretur in basilicam sancti Simphoriani, quam memoratus pontifex fabricaverat ante conspectum muri Biturigi. Nec tamen monachos quos prius congregaverat relinquens, sed instituens eis praepositum, ipse utrasque cellulas gubernabat.

'Bourges first received the word of salvation from St Ursinus, who was ordained bishop by disciples of the apostles and selected for Gaul. Ursinus was the first to establish and govern the church at Bourges. After he migrated from this world, he was placed in a tomb in a field among the tombs of other people. For the people still did not understand how to venerate bishops of God and how to show the respect that was owed them. Hence it happened that as the dirt filled in, a vineyard was planted on top and buried all memory of the first bishop of the city. Until the time when Probianus was selected as bishop of the city, no one spoke of Ursinus.
There was a man named Agustus who was a member of the household of Desideratus, a previous bishop [of Bourges]. Agustus’ hands and feet were so contracted that whenever he wished to progress or go somewhere, he dragged himself in no other way than on his knees and elbows. Inspired by God he built from the alms of the pious an oratory in honour of the holy and most blessed bishop Martin in the village of Brives. When Agustus placed relics of Martin in the oratory, immediately his limbs were straightened and he was cured. Then he gathered a few monks with himself, lived according to the rule of a monastery, and was always occupied in prayer.
Hence it happened that subsequently Agustus was summoned by the bishop [Probianus] and ordained as abbot for the church of Saint Symphorianus that this aforementioned bishop had built in sight of the wall of Bourges. But Agustus did not leave the monks whom he had previously gathered; by appointing a prior for them he himself governed both communities.'

Ursinus appeared to Agustus at night and told him to find his grave, in the vision leading him by the hand to the place. But when Agustus told his bishop [Probianus] of this vision, he did not hold it of any account. Ursinus then appeared again to Agustus, and concurrently to Germanus, bishop of Paris, while he was on a visit to Bourges, this time leading Germanus and Agustus together to the spot. The next day, bishop and abbot compare their visions.

Igitur insequenti nocte accedentes illuc cum uno tantum clerico, qui cereum ferret, venerunt ad indicatum locum. Cumque fodentes usque in profundo, sepulchrum repperiunt. Quo detecto amotoque operturio, viderunt sanctum corpus tamquam dormientis hominis nulla putredine resolutum. Quod admirantes et iterum operturium conponentes, indicarunt episcopo data die quae viderant. Tunc ille, convocatis abbatibus et clero, cum honore atque psallentio levaverunt beatum sepulchrum; et quia vectes illi quibus ferebatur valde longi erant, cum venissent ad porticum, non poterant deflecti in ingressu eius, ut ad ostium aedis sine labore accederent. Tunc beatus Germanus elevata voce ait: 'Sanctae Dei sacerdos, si voluntas tua est in hac basilica ingredi, sentiamus levamen adiutorii tui. Et statim, amisso pondere, ita in summa levitate factum est sarcofagum, ut, relictis vectibus, pauci manibus ferrent quod usque ad locum illum multi detulerant. Et sic, celebratis missis, gaudente populo, iuxta altare sepelitur, multis se deinceps virtutibus manifestans.

So the next night they went there with only one cleric who carried a candle, and they came to the designated spot. As they dug deep down, they found the tomb. Once they uncovered it and removed its lid, they saw the holy body, as if of a man asleep, untouched by any decay. They wondered at it and then replaced the lid. When day came, they told bishop Probianus what they had seen. With the assembled abbots and clergy, and while psalms were being chanted, they raised the blessed tomb with honour. But because the poles on which the tomb was being carried were long, when they came to the porch, these could not be manoeuvred at its entrance in such a way as to approach the door of the church easily. Then the blessed Germanus raised his voice and said: ‘Holy bishop of God, if it is your will to enter this church, let us witness your uplifting assistance.’ Immediately the weight of the sarcophagus vanished and it became so light that the men dropped the poles, and a few of them lifted with their hands what many had brought to that spot. So, after the celebration of mass, Ursinus was buried next to the altar, while the people rejoiced. Thereafter he revealed himself in many miracles.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 346-348. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 59-61, modified.