E05131: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (1), gives an account of the martyrdom of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), in Brioude (central Gaul). Written in Latin in Clermont and Tours (central and north-west Gaul), 570/587.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Julian (Liber de passione et virtutibus sancti Iuliani martyris) 1

At the beginning of the book Gregory recalls some biblical figures who each 'loved righteousness with his whole heart'. He lists Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, the three youths in the Fiery Furnace, and Daniel. The apostles and martyrs also 'travelled on the path of righteousness', and Julian of Brioude was among them. Gregory then presents his martyrdom:

Sic et inclitus martyr Iulianus, qui Viennensi ortus urbe Arvernus datus est martyr, ab hoc igne succensus, haec concupivit ac mente tota desideravit. Quia cum esset apud beatissimum Ferreolum, iam tunc martyrii odore flagrabat. Qui, relictis divitiis ac propinquis, tantum ob solius amorem martyrii Arvernus advenit. Sed nec hoc sine divino mandato peregit, cum tunc persecutio in Viennensi urbe ferveret. Legerat enim, Dominum praedixisse: Si vos persecuti fuerint in istam civitatem, fugite in aliam. Contulit ergo se hic in Arverno territurio non metu mortis, sed ut relinquens propria facilius perveniret ad palmam; metuebat enim, ne ei parentes essent obvii, si inter eos hoc certamen inisset; et perderet miles Christi coronam gloriae, si legitime non certasset. Igitur instante persecutione ad Brivatinsime vicum, in quo fanatici erroris neniae colebantur, advenit. Et cum insequi adversarios nutu Dei sensisset, a vidua quadam se occultari deprecatur. Quem illa tegens, ilico, martyre poscente, detexit; qui suis insecutoribus ita infit: 'Nolo', inquit, 'diutius commorari in hoc saeculo, quia sitio tota animi aviditate iam Christum'. At illi eductam vibranti dextera frameam, deciso capite, in tribus, ut ita dicam, partibus gloriosus dividitur martyr. Nam caput Viennae defertur, artus Brivate reconduntur; felix anima Christo conditore suscipitur. Senes quoque, qui sacrosanctum corpus mancipaverant sepulturae, ita redintegrati sunt, ut in senectute summa positi tamquam iuvenes haberentur. Caput quoque eius Ferreolus martyr accepit, conpletoque certamine, tam illius membra quam istius caput in unius tumuli receptaculo collocantur. Quod ne cuiquam fortassis videatur incredibilis esse narratio, quae audivi gesta fideliter prodam.

'So also the illustrious martyr Julian, who was born at Vienne and given to Clermont as a martyr, was ignited by this fire and wished for and desired these [goals] in all his plans. Even when he was with the most blessed Ferreolus, already then he burned with the fragrance of martyrdom. After he abandoned his wealth and his relatives, he came to Clermont simply because of so great a desire for martyrdom. But he did not undertake this without a divine command, since a persecution was then raging in Vienne. For he had read that the Lord had proclaimed: 'If you are persecuted in that city, flee to another' [Matt. 10:23]. Therefore he came here to the territory of Clermont not because he feared death but so that by leaving his own possessions he might achieve his prize more easily. For he was afraid that his relatives might oppose him if he initiated this struggle in their presence, and that he, a soldier of Christ, might forfeit the crown of glory if he did not struggle correctly. While this persecution was raging he came to the village of Brioude, in which the incantations of that mad error [of paganism] were practised. When by the will of God he learned that his enemies were in pursuit, he asked a certain widow to hide him. She [first] concealed him; [then,] at the martyr’s request she immediately exposed [him]. He spoke in this manner to his pursuers: 'I do not wish,' he said, 'to remain any longer in this world, because with all the longing of my spirit I already thirst for Christ.' They drew their swords, brandished them in their right hands, and cut off his head; the glorious martyr was then, if I may say so, divided into three parts. For his head was brought to Vienne, his body was buried at Brioude, but his blessed soul was received by Christ his maker. The old men who delivered his sacred body to the tomb were so rejuvenated that [even though] they were very elderly, they were thought of as young men. The martyr Ferreolus acquired his head; after he completed [his own] struggle, his body as well as this head were placed in one tomb. Lest perhaps this account seem unbelievable to anyone, let me carefully relate the events that I have heard.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 113-114. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 163-165; lightly modified.