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E02025: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (2.16), recounts the procuring from Bologna (northern Italy) of relics of *Agricola and Vitalis (master and slave, martyrs of Bologna, S00310) for an impressive new church in Clermont (central Gaul), built by the bishop of Clermont, Namatius (c. 446-462). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
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posted on 2016-11-20, 00:00 authored by robertGregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 2.16
Sanctus vero Namatius post obitum Rustici episcopi apud Arvernus in diebus illis octavus erat episcopus. Hic ecclesiam, qui nunc constat et senior infra murus civitatis habetur, suo studio fabricavit, habentem in longo pedes 150, in lato pedes 60, id est infra capso, in alto usque cameram pedes 50, inante absidam rotundam habens, ab utroque latere ascellas eleganti constructas opere; totumque aedificium in modum crucis habetur expositum. Habet fenestras 42, columnas 70, ostia 8. Terror namque ibidem Dei et claritas magna conspicitur, et vere plerumque inibi odor suavissimus quasi aromatum advenire a religiosis sentitur. Parietes ad altarium opere sarsurio ex multa marmorum genera exornatos habet. Exactum ergo in duodecimo anno beatus pontifex aedificium, Bononiae civitatem Italiae sacerdotes dirigit, ut ei reliquias sanctorum Agricolae et Vitalis exhibeant, quos pro nomine Christi Dei nostri manifestissime crucifixos esse cognovimus.
'After the death of Bishop Rusticus, the holy Namatius became the eighth bishop of Clermont. It was he who built by his own effort the church which still stands and which is considered to be the oldest within the city walls. It is one hundred and fifty feet long, sixty feet wide inside the nave and fifty feet high as far as the vaulting. It has a rounded apse at the end, and two wings (ascellae) of elegant design on either side. The whole building is constructed in the shape of a cross. It has forty-two windows, seventy columns and eight doorways. In it one is conscious of the fear of God and of a great brightness, and those at prayer are often aware of a most sweet and aromatic odour which is being wafted towards them. Round the sanctuary it has walls which are decorated with mosaic work made of many varieties of marble. When the building had been finished for a dozen years, the blessed bishop sent priests to Bologna, the city in Italy, to procure for him relics (reliquiae) of Saints Agricola and Vitalis, who we have known were most assuredly crucified in the name of Christ our Lord.'
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 64. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 131; lightly modified.
Sanctus vero Namatius post obitum Rustici episcopi apud Arvernus in diebus illis octavus erat episcopus. Hic ecclesiam, qui nunc constat et senior infra murus civitatis habetur, suo studio fabricavit, habentem in longo pedes 150, in lato pedes 60, id est infra capso, in alto usque cameram pedes 50, inante absidam rotundam habens, ab utroque latere ascellas eleganti constructas opere; totumque aedificium in modum crucis habetur expositum. Habet fenestras 42, columnas 70, ostia 8. Terror namque ibidem Dei et claritas magna conspicitur, et vere plerumque inibi odor suavissimus quasi aromatum advenire a religiosis sentitur. Parietes ad altarium opere sarsurio ex multa marmorum genera exornatos habet. Exactum ergo in duodecimo anno beatus pontifex aedificium, Bononiae civitatem Italiae sacerdotes dirigit, ut ei reliquias sanctorum Agricolae et Vitalis exhibeant, quos pro nomine Christi Dei nostri manifestissime crucifixos esse cognovimus.
'After the death of Bishop Rusticus, the holy Namatius became the eighth bishop of Clermont. It was he who built by his own effort the church which still stands and which is considered to be the oldest within the city walls. It is one hundred and fifty feet long, sixty feet wide inside the nave and fifty feet high as far as the vaulting. It has a rounded apse at the end, and two wings (ascellae) of elegant design on either side. The whole building is constructed in the shape of a cross. It has forty-two windows, seventy columns and eight doorways. In it one is conscious of the fear of God and of a great brightness, and those at prayer are often aware of a most sweet and aromatic odour which is being wafted towards them. Round the sanctuary it has walls which are decorated with mosaic work made of many varieties of marble. When the building had been finished for a dozen years, the blessed bishop sent priests to Bologna, the city in Italy, to procure for him relics (reliquiae) of Saints Agricola and Vitalis, who we have known were most assuredly crucified in the name of Christ our Lord.'
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 64. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 131; lightly modified.