E05933: The Chronicle of Fredegar describes the discovery of the body of Victor, martyr of the *Theban Legion (S00339), in a church at Geneva (eastern Gaul) in 602. Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700.

Chronicle of Fredegar 4.22

Eo anno corpus sancti Victoris, qui Salodero cum sancto Vrsio passus fuerat, a beato Aeconio pontifice Mauriennense inuenitur. Quadam nocte in suam ciuitatem ei reuelatur in sompnium ut surgens protinus iret ad eclesiam, quam Sideleuba regina suburbanum Genauinse construxerat: in medium eclesia designatum locum illum sanctum corpus adesset. Cumque Genaua festinus perrexisset cum beatis Rusticio et Patricio episcopis, triduanum faciens ieiunium, lumen per noctem ubi illum gloriosum et splendidum corpus erat apparuit. Quem cum selencio hii tres pontifecis cum lacrimis et orationibus, eleuato lapide, in arcam argentiam inuenerunt sepultum cuius faciem robentem quasi uiuum repperunt. Ibique princeps Theudericus presens aderat, multisque rebus huius eclesiae tribuens, maxemam partem facultates Warnacharii ibidem confirmauit. Ad sepulchrum illum sanctum mirae uirtutes ex ipsa diae quo repertum est prestante Domino integra adsiduaetate ostenduntur.

'In this year [602] the blessed Aeconius, bishop of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, discovered the body of Saint Victor, who had been martyred at Solothurn with Saint Ursius. One night, when he was in his city, it was revealed to him in a dream that he should get up at once and go to the church built by Queen Sideleuba outside Geneva. He would be informed of the spot where, in the middle of the church, the saint's body lay. So he made all haste to Geneva with the blessed Bishops Rusticius and Patricius. For three days he fasted and then, in the night, a light appeared over the spot where lay those glorious and illustrious remains. The three bishops, praying and in tears, lifted a stone and there found the body in a silver coffin. The saint's face had the fresh complexion of a living man. King Theuderic [II], who was present, made many gifts to the church and on the spot confirmed it in possession of the greater part of Warnachar's goods. From the day of that discovery astounding miracles were, by God's grace, constantly performed at that blessed grave.'


Text and translation: Wallace-Hadrill 1960 (translation adapted).