E00479: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (66), tells of the apparition of *Genesius (martyr of Thiers, S00265) to a peasant in the territory of Clermont (central Gaul), leading to the discovery of his tomb; he also records the building of his church, institution of his feast and deposition there of relics of another *Genesius (notary and martyr of Arles, S00263), all by Avitus, bishop of Clermont, in 571/593. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 66

Nuperrimo autem tempore in huius urbis Arvernae territurio, quod adiacit Tigernensi castello, Genesius eiusdem loci sanctus se hoc modo revelavit. Pauper quidam boves, quos ad exercendam culturam habebat, casu ab oculis dilapsos perdidit, eosdemque sollicita indage quaesitos repperire non potuit. Consequenti vero nocte apparuit ei vir quidam per visum, dicens: "Vade per viam, quae ad silvam ducit, et invenies boves, quos sollicite requiris, iuxta lapidem marmoris herbarum copiam decerpentes; iunctisque ad plaustrum, marmorem exhibe et super sepulturam, quae viae est propinqua, conpone. Ego enim sum, qui tibi haec loquor, Genesius, cuius est tumulus ille, qui in albis positus per martyrium ab hoc mundo migravi." Consurgens autem homo ille diluculo, repperit boves iuxta lapidem, fecitque sicut ei praeceptum fuerat per visum. Sed nec in hoc defuit miraculum, cum inmensum lapidem, quem a multa boum paria movere vix poterant, a duobus tantum delatus est bubus. Ex hoc enim multi infirmi ibidem venientes, votorum promissa solventes, sanitatem recipiunt. Audiens haec Avitus episcopus urbis illius, basilicam super tumulum sancti magnam aedificavit, dedicatamque, festivitatem in ea excoli praecepit, in qua nunc multa frequentia populorum cum votis, ut diximus, veniens, cum sanitate regreditur. Hanc etiam basilicam sancti Genesi Arelatensis reliquiis inlustravit.

'Very recently, within the territory of Clermont where it borders the town of Thiers, St Genesius revealed himself at this place in this way. A poor man lost the oxen that he owned for ploughing the land and that had by chance
vanished from his sight. Although he looked and searched carefully, he could not find them. On the following night a man appeared to him in a vision and said: 'Go on the path that leads to the forest, and you will find the
oxen that you earnestly seek eating the thick grass next to a marble tombstone. After you hitch the oxen to a wagon, take the marble stone and place it on the tomb which is next to the path. For I who say this to you am
Genesius, and this is my tomb. While clothed in the white robes I left this world as a martyr.' The man got up at dawn, found the oxen next to the tombstone, and did just as he had been instructed in the vision. But a miracle also occurred on this occasion, because only two oxen moved this huge stone that many teams of oxen could hardly move. Thereafter many ill people came there, performed the requirements of their vows, and received their health. Once bishop Avitus of Clermont heard of these cures, he built and dedicated a large church over the tomb of the saint. He ordered that a festival be celebrated in the church. Now large crowds of people gather in the church with their vows, as I said, and depart with their health. Avitus also distinguished this church with relics of Saint Genesius of Arles.'

There follows the story of Genesius of Arles, on which see $E00480.

Text: Krusch 1969, 83. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 63-64; lightly modified.