E05270: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (50), recounts how he dedicated the church at Pernay in the Touraine (north-west Gaul) with relics of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), and *Nicetius (bishop of Lyon, ob. 573, S00049), and how a blind man was cured there; Gregory closes the chapter, and his book, with the hope that Julian, his patron, will help him lead a good Christian life. 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) 50

Gregory closes his Miracles of Julian with this chapter and these words:

Sed quoniam non est absurdum, si beatus Iulianus cum Iohanne aut Martino dona sanitatem inpertiat, cum quibus victor saeculi in caelo trepudiat, referam adhuc, qualiter cum Nicetio Lugdunense simili virtute floruerit. Igitur infra terminum territurii Turonici Litomeris quidam in honore sancti martyris basilicam aedificavit, in qua nos ex more ad benedicendum evocati, sancti Iuliani martyris cum Niceti Lugdunensis reliquias collocavimus. Sed non multum post tempore caecus adveniens, fideliter orationem fudit, visum recipere meruit. Memini huic caeco in libro vitae sancti Niceti, quia dignum est, ut communis virtus utriusque sancti scripta connectat.

Ergo his miraculis lector intendens intellegat, non aliter nisi martyrum reliquorumque amicorum Dei adiutoriis se posse salvari. Ego autem Domini misericordiam per beati martyris Iuliani patrociniae deprecor, ut advocatus in causis alumni proprii coram Domino adsistens obteneat, ut absque inpedimento maculae ullius huius vitae cursum peragam atque illa quae confessus sum in baptismum inreprehensibiliter teneam, fideliter exerceam, viriliter usque ad consummationem huius vitae custodiam. Amen'.


‘Since it is not surprising that the blessed Julian shares the gifts of healing with John and Martin, with whom as a victor over this world he dances in heaven, let me also relate how he, along with Nicetius of Lyon, was distinguished with a similar power. Within the boundaries of the territory of Tours Litomeris built a church in honor of the holy martyr. In accordance with custom I was invited for the dedication, and in this church I placed relics of the martyr Saint Julian along with those of Nicetius of Lyon. A bit later a blind man came [to this church], piously offered a prayer, and deserved to receive his sight. I have [also] recorded this blind man in my book about the life of Saint Nicetius, because it is proper that a common miracle link the writings about each saint.

Therefore let the reader who is interested in these miracles understand that he can be saved in no other way than by the assistance of the martyrs and the other friends of God. I, however, pray for the goodwill of the Lord through the patronage of the blessed martyr Julian. May he stand before the Lord and be successful as an advocate on behalf of [me,] his own foster son, so that I might complete the course of this life without the handicap of any blemish, and so that until the end of this life I might blamelessly retain, faithfully exercise, and manfully protect what I confessed at my baptism. Amen.’

Text: Krusch 1969, 133-134. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 194-195; lightly modified.