E06705: In his Letter 5.17 to Eriphius, written in Latin, Sidonius Apollinaris writes of the church over the tomb of *Justus (bishop of Lyon, ob. c. 390, S02411) in Lyon (eastern Gaul) and how he attended there a feast of the saint. Written in Clermont (central Gaul), AD 461/477.

Sidonius Apollinaris, Letters 5.17.3-4

In his letter Eriphius, Sidonius describes an event that occurred after he and his company took part in the feast at the tomb of Justus.

Conveneramus ad sancti Iusti sepulchrum (sed tibi infirmitas impedimento, ne tunc adesses); processio fuerat antelucana, sollemnitas anniversaria, populus ingens sexu ex utroque, quem capacissima basilica non caperet quamlibet cincta diffusis cryptoporticibus. Cultu peracto vigiliarum, quas alternante mulcedine monachi clericique psalmicines concelebraverant, quisque in diversa secessimus, non procul tamen, utpote ad tertiam praesto futuri, cum sacerdotibus res divina facienda. de loci sane turbarumque compressu deque numerosis luminibus inlatis nimis anheli; simul et aestati nox adhuc proxima tecto clausos vapore torruerat, etsi iam primo frigore tamen autumnalis Aurorae detepescebat.

‘We had gathered together at the tomb of Saint Justus (you, however, were prevented by illness from being there); the annual solemnity of the procession before daybreak. There was an enormous congregation of both sexes, too great for the very spacious church to contain, even with the expanse of covered porticoes with surrounded it. After the Vigils, which monks and clerics had celebrated with alternate strains of sweet psalmody, we all withdrew in various directions, but not far, as we wanted to be at hand for tierce when the priests should celebrate the Mass. Owing to the cramped space, the pressure of the crowd, and the numerous lights which had been brought in, we were absolutely gasping for breath; moreover, imprisoned as we were under the roof, we were broiled by the heat of what was still almost a summer night, although just beginning to be touched with the coolness of an autumn dawn.'

Text and translation: Anderson 1965, 226-229, adapted.