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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


The anonymous Gallic Chronicle of 452, written in Latin in Gaul in the mid 5th c., records the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) by *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490), in Milan (northern Italy).

Evidence ID

E03519

Type of Evidence

Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)

Gallic Chronicle of 452, 14

Reliquiae Gervasi et Protasii martyrum ab Ambrosio primum Mediolani repertae.

'The relics of Gervasius and Protasius the martyrs are first discovered by Ambrose at Milan.'


Text: Mommsen 1892, 646 (Burgess 2001, 68).
Translation: David Lambert.

Cult Places

Burial site of a saint - unspecified

Relics

Bodily relic - entire body

Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

The Gallic Chronicle of 452 was written by an unknown author who is generally located by scholars in southern Gaul on the basis of the prominence of southern Gallic events in the Chronicle. The last event mentioned in the Chronicle is the invasion of Italy by Attila in 452. It is therefore assumed to have been compiled at around that date, hence its modern title. For full discussion see Muhlberger 1990, 136-192; Burgess 2001, 52-65.

The
Gallic Chronicle of 452 is a continuation of the chronicle of Jerome, beginning when Jerome's concludes (in the 370s), and has the same chronological system, which makes simultaneous use of years from the birth of Abraham, Olympiads, and regnal years of Roman emperors (Burgess 2001, 52, 57-60).


Discussion

The discovery of the bodies of Gervasius and Protasius by Ambrose of Milan is one of the best known incidents involving the discovery and translation of relics in late antiquity (e.g. the account in Augustine's Confessions, E01019). The event occurred in 386; it is in approximately the correct chronological position in the Chronicle. The chronicler's source for his entry on the event is probably the Life of Ambrose by Paulinus of Milan (E00904), which was the source for other entries about Ambrose (Mommsen 1892, 646, n. 8).


Bibliography

Editions:
Mommsen, T.,
Chronica Gallica a.CCCCLII, in: Chronica Minora saec. IV. V. VI. VII., vol. 1 (Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Auctores Antiquissimi 9; Berlin: Apud Weidmannos, 1892), 646-662.

Burgess, R., "The Gallic Chronicle of 452: A New Critical Edition with a Brief Introduction," in: R.W. Mathisen and D. Shanzer (eds.),
Society and Culture in Late Antique Gaul: Revisiting the Sources (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2001), 52-84, pp. 67-82.

English translation:
Murray, A.C.,
From Roman to Merovingian Gaul: A Reader (Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2000), 76-85.

Further reading:
Muhlberger, S.,
The Fifth-Century Chroniclers: Prosper, Hydatius, and the Gallic Chronicler of 452 (Leeds: Francis Cairns, 1990).


Record Created By

David Lambert

Date of Entry

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00313Gervasius and Protasius, brothers and martyrs of MilanGervasius, ProtasiusCertain
S00490Ambrose, bishop of Milan, ob. 397AmbrosiusCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
David Lambert, Cult of Saints, E03519 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E03519