E05200: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (22), describes how a blind man, advised in a dream vision, came to the church of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035) in Brioude (central Gaul), and received his sight after Publianus, an archpriest, made the sign of the cross over his eyes. 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) 22

Cum autem quidam ab eo loco per incursum diabolicum oculum perdidisset et ad hospitiolum suum viduatus lumine infeliciter resederet, ac manibus propriis nihil laborare praevalens, spem ullam alimonii non haberet, apparuit ei vir in visu noctis, commonens, ut ad beati basilicam ambularet; ibique, si devote suggerat, promittit auxilium inveniri. At ille nihil moratus, arrepto bacello, adminiculante puero, sanctum ingressus est locum. Qui post conpleta oratione archipresbiterum, qui tunc locum ipsum regebat, nomine Publianum adivit, supplicans, ut oculis caecis Christi crucem inponeret. Erat enim valde religiosus. Quod ille, dum iactantiam evadere cupit, evitans, tenetur a caeco, nec omnino dimittitur, nisi quae petebat adimpleret. Tunc ille prostratus ante sepulchrum, diutissime martyris est suffragium inprecatus; deinde admotam oculis caecis manum, protinus ut signum crucis inposuit, visum iste recepit. Admiramini, quaeso, virtutem martyris, cum parum sit exercere miracula, nunc etiam per manus discipulorum, adstipulante virtutis suae favore, publice operatur. Sed nec meritum discipuli fuit exiguum, cui haec praestita esse cernuntur.

‘A man from this place lost [sight in] his eyes after being assaulted by a demon. Because he had lost his sight, he remained in misery in his lodging; and because he was unable to do anything with his own hands, he had no hope of supporting himself. During the night a man appeared to him in a dream and suggested that he go to the church of the blessed [Julian], and promised that he would find help there if he asked devoutly. The blind man did not hesitate. He picked up his staff and with the assistance of a servant entered the holy shrine. Once he had finished his prayer, he went to the archpriest named Publianus who was then in charge of the shrine and asked that he make [the sign of] the cross of Christ over his blind eyes, for Publianus was a very pious man. When the latter refused, seeking to avoid pride, he was seized by the blind man who would not release him until Publianus did what he requested. Publianus prostrated himself before the tomb and for the very long time prayed for the martyr’s assistance. Then he stretched out his hand over the eyes of the blind man, and as soon as he made the sign of the cross, the blind man received his sight. I beg of you, marvel at the martyr’s power; while it is easy [for him] to perform miracles, now they happen in public, with the favour of his power, even through the hands of his disciples. But the merit of the disciple was not slight, to whom these things are seen to have been given.’

Text: Krusch 1969, 123-124. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 178-179, modified.