Quodvultdeus of Carthage, in his Book of Promises, names several tombs of apostles and saints which guarantee the truthfulness of the doctrine of the Church: in Jerusalem, of *James (probably the 'brother of the Lord', S00058) and *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030); at Ephesus, *John (the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042); in Asia, *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288); in Rome, the Apostles *Peter and *Paul (S00036 and *Paul S00008). Written in Latin, probably during Quodvultdeus' exile in Italy, 440/454.
E00975
Literary - Other
Quodvultdeus
Quodvultdeus, Book of Promises (Liber promissionum), Dimidium temporis 5.7
A quorum consortio alieni inueniuntur omnes haeretici qui, relicta pace communionis et panis unius, dicta apostolorum in suis non ecclesiis sed plateis praedicant et eorum memoriis non communicant; separati a toto catholicum sibi nomen asciscunt; cum in ipsa Hierusalem Iacob et Stephanus primus martir, Iohannes apud Ephesum, Andreas et ceteri per totam Asiam, Petrus et Paulus apostoli in urbe Roma gentium ecclesiam quam in Christi Domini doctrina erudierunt, pacatam unamque posteris tradentes sanguine memoriisque suis ex dominica passione sacrarunt.
'All heretics are alien to the community, those who, having left the peace of communion and shared bread, do not preach the words of the apostles in their churches but in the [public] squares, and have nothing in common with their [the Apostles'] tombs (memoriae); separated from the whole they assume for themselves the name of Catholics, while James and Stephen the first martyr in Jerusalem itself, John in Ephesus, Andrew and others through all Asia, the Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Rome, sanctified with their blood and their tombs (memoriae), through the passion of the Lord, the Church of the nations, which they taught with the teaching of Christ the Lord, passing it to their successors whole and undisturbed.'
Text: Braun 1976.
Translation: Robert Wiśniewski.
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesHeretics
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the veneration of saints
Source
The Book of Promises collects biblical prophecies, some of which are already fulfilled, others concerning the future to come. The author is not named in any manuscript, but the text suggests that he was a bishop of Carthage and then settled in Campania. All this points to Quodvultdeus, who started his episcopate between 429 and 439, and was exiled in the latter year from his see by the Vandals. He settled in Naples where he died most probably in 454, because in this year his successor in Carthage was chosen. The Book of Promises was written almost certainly some time after 439, for in Book of Promises 5.6 (E00997) the author claims that he is already settled in Campania.Discussion
Quodvultedus names some famous tombs of the Apostles, though it is worth noting that the list is not complete. He omits *Philip in Hierapolis and *Thomas in Edessa, and the association of Andrew with Asia is puzzling: in 357 (or 337, see E04570) his body was transferred from Patras in Achaia (Greece) to Constantinople and deposited in Constantine's Mausoleum or the adjacent church of the Holy Apostles.The James buried in Jerusalem is almost certainly James, 'brother of the Lord' (S00058), whose martyrdom and burial in Jerusalem were widely attested.
Bibliography
Edition:Braun, R., Quodvultdeus Carthaginensis, Opera Tributa (Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 60; Turnhout: Brepols, 1976).
French translation:
Braun, R., Livre des promesses et des prédictions de Dieu, 2 vols. (Sources Chrétiennes 101-102; Paris: Cerf, 1964).
Robert Wiśniewski
11/12/2015
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00008 | Paul, the Apostle | Paulus | Certain | S00030 | Stephen, the First Martyr | Stephanus | Certain | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Petrus | Certain | S00042 | John, the Apostle and Evangelist | Iohannes | Certain | S00058 | James, 'brother of the Lord' | Iacob | Uncertain | S00288 | Andrew, the Apostle | Andreas | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Robert Wiśniewski, Cult of Saints, E00975 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E00975