E02846: The Life of *Severinus (hermit and monk in Noricum, ob. 482, S00848) tells how monks of a place called Boiotro (on the upper Danube) desired relics of martyrs, and how Severinus deterred them, telling them that relics of *John (the Baptist, S00020) would arrive of their own accord. Account by Eugippius, written in Latin near Naples (southern Italy) in 511.

Eugippius, Life of Severinus 22

Basilicae extra muros oppidi Batavini in loco nomine Boiotro trans Aenum fluvium constitutae, ubi cellulam paucis monachis ipse construxerat, martyrum reliquiae quaerebantur. Ingerentibus ergo se presbyteris, ut mitterentur ad sanctuaria deferenda, haec beatus Severinus monita proferebat: "Quamvis cuncta mortalium opere constructa praetereant, haec tamen aedificia prae ceteris celerrime relinquenda sunt": et ideo pro reliquiis sanctorum nullum laborem debere suscipere, quia ultro eis sancti Iohannis benedictio deferretur.

‘For the basilica outside the walls of Batavis, in a place called Boiotro, across the river Inn, where he had built a small abode for a few monks, relics of martyrs were sought. Priests volunteered to be sent in search of holy relics; but blessed Severin uttered these words of warning: “Although everything built by the hands of mortals will pass away, these buildings will have to be abandoned more quickly than others”; and, therefore, he said, they should not take any trouble in procuring the relics of saints, because the blessed relics of St. John would come to them by themselves”.'

Text: Noll 1981, 86. Translation: Bieler-Krestan 1965, 79.