Augustine of Hippo, in his City of God (22.8), tells how a blind woman in Aquae Tibilitanae (Numidia, central North Africa) was healed when she touched flowers which had been in contact with a reliquary containing relics of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), brought to this place by a bishop, in the early 420s. Written in Latin in Hippo Regius (North Africa), 426/427.
Evidence ID
E01109
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other
Major author/Major anonymous work
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo, City of God 22.8
Ad Aquas Tibilitanas episcopo adferente Praeiecto martyris gloriosissimi Stephani memoria ueniebat magnae multitudinis concursu et occursu. Ibi caeca mulier, ut ad episcopum portantem duceretur, orauit; flores, quos ferebat, dedit, recepit, oculis admouit - protinus uidit. Stupentibus qui aderant praeibat exultans, uiam carpens et uiae ducem ulterius non requirens.
'Relics (memoria) of the most glorious martyr Stephen, brought by bishop Praeiectus, arrived at the Waters of Tibilis (Aquae Tibilitanae), amongst a great concourse of people. There a blind woman entreated that she might be led to the bishop who was carrying the relics. She gave him the flowers she was carrying. On taking them back, applied them to her eyes, and immediately saw. Those who were present were astounded, while she, with every expression of joy, preceded them, pursuing her way without further need of a guide.'
Text: Dombart and Kalb 1955.
Translation: Dods 1887, lightly modified.
MiraclesMiracle after death
RelicsUnspecified relic
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesWomen
Cult Related Objects
Miracle after death
Healing diseases and disabilities
RelicsUnspecified relic
Transfer/presence of relics from distant countries
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics
Touching and kissing relics
Reliquary – institutionally owned
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesWomen
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Crowds
Cult Related ObjectsFlowers
Source
Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 in the north African city of Thagaste. He received an education in rhetoric at Carthage, and after a period teaching there moved to Rome, and then in 384 to a public professorship of rhetoric in Milan. In these early years of adulthood Augustine was a Manichaean, but then got disillusioned with this religion, and in Milan in 386, largely under the influence of Ambrose, bishop of the city, he converted to Christianity, and was baptised by Ambrose in 387. Returning to Africa in 388, he was ordained a priest in 391 at Hippo Regius (in the province of Numidia), and rapidly acquired a reputation as a preacher. In 395 he became bishop of Hippo, which he remained until his death in 430. Details of his early life were recorded by Augustine himself in his Confessions, and shortly after his death a pupil and long-time friend, Possidius, wrote his Life, focused on Augustine as an effective Christian writer, polemicist and bishop (E00073).Amongst his many writings, the most informative on the cult of saints are his numerous Sermons, the City of God, and a treatise On the Care of the Dead. The Sermons tell us which saints (primarily African, but with some from abroad) received attention in Hippo, Carthage and elsewhere, and provide occasional details of miracles and cult practices. The City of God records the distribution, and subsequent miracles, of the relics of saint Stephen, after they arrived in Africa from Palestine in around 420. On the Care of the Dead, discusses the possible advantages of burial ad sanctos (in other words, close to a saint), and theorises on the link between the saints who dwell in heaven and their corporeal remains buried in their graves. In these works, and others, Augustine reveals his own particular beliefs about the saints, their relics and their miracles.
Augustine wrote Book 22 of the City of God in Hippo, in 426/427. Chapters 8-9 enumerate a number of contemporary miracles, most of which took place in Hippo and other cities of North Africa, either at the relics of Stephen, the first martyr or those of *Gervasius and *Protasius, martyrs in Milan.
Discussion
The transfer of relics, mentioned in this passage, took place shortly after their arrival to Africa. Around 420 these relics, most probably brought to Africa by Orosius, found their way also to Hippo Regius, Calama, and Uzalis.Aquae Tibilitanae were the hot springs (present-day Hammam Maskhoutine) close to the Roman city of Thibilis (or Tibilis). Praiectus, the bishop involved in this story, was probably bishop of Thibilis, and the relics were perhaps only passing through Aquae Tibilitanae on their way to that city
The term memoria (literally 'memory' or 'memorial') is used by Augustine both for the shrines of martyrs and, more narrowly, for their relics. Since it is evident that, for Augustine, the memorial shrine (memoria) of a saint contained relics of that saint, there is often no substantive difference in the ways he uses the word. In this case he is clearly referring to relics.
Bibliography
Edition:Dombart, B., and Kalb, A., Augustinus, De civitate dei, 2 vols. (Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 47-48; Turnhout: Brepols, 1955).
English translation:
Dods, M., Augustine, The City of God (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 2; Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887).
Further reading:
Meyers, J., Les miracles de saint Etienne. Recherches sur le recueil pseudo-augustinien (BHL 7860-7861), avec édition critique, traduction et commentaire (Turnhout: Brepols, 2006).
Record Created By
Robert Wiśniewski
Date of Entry
21/02/2016
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00030 | Stephen, the First Martyr | Stephanus | Certain |
|---|
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