E02392: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.31), gives the list of fasts and vigils instituted by Perpetuus, the sixth bishop of Tours (bishop 460-490), in the churches of Tours (most frequently in that of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050)), the majority associated with the commemoration of saints, both local and international. These fasts and vigils were still being held in Gregory of Tours' times. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 10.31

Hic instituit ieiunia vigiliasque, qualiter per circulum anni observarentur, quod hodieque apud nos tenetur scriptum, quorum ordo hic est:

De ieiuniis.
Post quinquagesimum quarta, sexta feria usque natale sancti Iohannis.
De Kalendis Septembris usque Kalendas Octobris bina in septimana ieiunia.
De Kalendis Octobris usque depositionem domni Martini bina in septimana ieiunia.
De depositione domni Martini usque natale Domini terna in septimana ieiunia.
De natale sancti Hilarii usque medio Februario bina in septimana ieiunia.

De vigiliis.
Natale Domini in ecclesia.
Epiphania in ecclesia.
Natale sancti Iohannis ad basilicam domni Martini.
Natale sancti Petri episcopatus ad ipsius basilicam.
Sexto Kalendas Aprilis resurrectio domini nostri Iesu Christi ad basilicam domni Martini.
Pascha in ecclesia.
Die ascensionis in basilica domni Martini.
Die quinquagesimo in ecclesia.
Passio sancti Iohannis ad basilicam in baptisterio.
Natale sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli ad ipsorum basilicam.
Natale sancti Martini ad eius basilicam.
Natale sancti Simphoriani ad basilicam domni Martini.
Natale sancti Litorii ad eius basilicam.
Item natale sancti Martini ad eius basilicam.
Natale sancti Brictii ad domni Martini basilicam.
Natale sancti Hilarii ad domni Martini basilicam.


'He instituted the fasts and vigils which are still observed in Tours throughout the course of the year. I possess a written list of these. It runs as follows:

Fasts
At Whitsun, the fourth and sixth days of the week, until the Nativity of Saint John [24 June] [= *John the Baptist, S00020]
From 1 September to 1 October, two fasts each week.
From 1 October until the Burial of Saint Martin [11 November], three fasts each week. [= *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050)]
From the Burial of Saint Martin until Christmas, three fasts each week.
From the Feast of Saint Hilary [13 January] until the middle of February, three fasts each week. [= *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183)]

Vigils
At Christmas, in the cathedral.
At Epiphany, in the cathedral.
On the Nativity of Saint John [24 June], in Saint Martin’s church.
On the Feast of the Episcopate of Saint Peter [22 February], in Saint Peter’s church. [= *Peter (the Apostle, S00036)]
On the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, 27 March, in Saint Martin’s church.
At Easter, in the cathedral.
On Ascension Day, in Saint Martin’s church.
On Whit-Sunday, in the cathedral.
On the Passion of Saint John [29 August], at the basilica [of Martin] in the baptistery.
On the Feast of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul [29 June], in their church. [= the Apostles Peter and Paul (S00008)]
On the Feast of Saint Martin [4 July], in Saint Martin’s church.
On the Feast of Saint Symphorianus [22 August], in Saint Martin’s church. [= *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322)]
On the Feast of Saint Litorius [13 September], in the church of Saint Litorius. [= *Litorius (bishop of Tours, ob. 370/371, S01214)]
On the Feast of Saint Martin [11 November], in Saint Martin’s church.
On the Feast of Saint Bricius [3 November], in Saint Martin’s church. [= *Bricius (bishop of Tours, ob. 443, S01170)]
On the Feast of Saint Hilary [13 January], in Saint Martin’s church.'


Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 529-530. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 596-597, modified.