E05237: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (34 & 35), recounts how, while attending the saint's festival, he took some threads from the cloth covering the tomb of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035) in Brioude (central Gaul); how he was asked to dedicate a church of Julian in Tours with these relics, and did so, while a possessed man proclaimed the presence of Julian and was cured; in 573-574. Written in Latin in Clermont and Tours (central and north-west Gaul), 573/587.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Julian (Liber de passione et virtutibus sancti Iuliani martyris) 34 & 35

Haec ego dudum experta. Contigit, ut post ordinationem meam Arvernus accederem; profectusque, beati basilicam adivi. Expletaque festivitate, disruptis a palla quae sanctum tegit tumulum fimbriis, in his mihi ferre praesidium credens, impleta oratione, discessi. Apud Turonicam vero urbem monachi in honore ipsius martyris basilicam, qualem possibilitas eorum habuit, aedificaverunt, cupientes, eam eius virtutibus consecrari. Audientes autem, haec pignora a me fuisse delata, rogabant, ut dedicata aedes hisdem augeretur exubiis. At ego, adpraehensam secretius capsam, ad basilicam beati Martini, incipiente nocte, propero. Referebat autem mihi vir fidelis, qui tunc eminus adstabat, cum nos basilicam sumus ingressi, vidisse se pharum inmensi luminis e caelo dilapsam super beatam basilicam discendisse, et deinceps quasi intro ingressa fuisset.

‘Here are some events that I experienced recently. It happened that I returned to Clermont after my consecration [as bishop of Tours]. After a [further] journey I came to the church of the blessed [Julian at Brioude]. At the conclusion of his festival I pulled some threads from the cloth that covered the holy tomb, because I thought they would offer me protection; then I finished my prayer and left. In the city of Tours monks had constructed, in honour of this martyr such a church as their means allowed; now they wished it to be consecrated to his powers. When they heard that I had brought these relics, they requested that this church be dedicated and enhanced with these spoils. But I secretly took the reliquary and at nightfall hurried to the church of the blessed Martin. A trustworthy man who was at the time standing at a distance told me that when I entered the church, he saw an immense flash of light fall from heaven, descend over the church and then enter as it were inside.’

Placing the relics on the altar, Gregory celebrates vigils, and the next day solemnly takes them to the new church. A possessed man cries out asking why Julian has come to join Martin, and is cured at the end of the mass.

Text: Krusch 1969, 128. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 186; modified.