The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Venantius Fortunatus, Poems 1.2 (Versus de templo domni Andreae quod aedificavit Vitalis episcopus Ravennensis, 'Verses on the church of lord Andrew which bishop Vitalis of Ravenna built')

Quisquis ad haec sancti concurris limina templi,
   si venias supplex, hic prece sumis opem.
Quam sacer antistes Vitalis condidit arcem,
   culmine quae celso est tempore ducta brevi;
fundavit, struxit, dotavit, deinde dicavit                                      5
   et meruit templi solvere vota sui.
Quo veneranda pii requiescunt viscera Petri,
   qui meruit solus clave ligare polos;
Paulus apostolica simul hac retinetur in aula,
   seductor quondam qui modo doctor ovat;                             10
hanc sacer Andreas propriam sibi vindicat arcem
   et cum fratre pio participata regit;
haec sua tecta replet Laurentius igne sereno,
   cui pia flamma dedit luce perenne diem;
Vitali domus ista placet, qui vivus harenis                                    15
   defossus meruit perdere mortis iter;
sunt loca Martini qui texit veste tonantem:
   ne magis algeret, se spoliare dedit;
ecce Vigili arx est quem rustica turba peremit:
   unde mori voluit, mors magis ipsa fugit;                                  20
incolit haec pariter Marturius atque Sisennus,
   quos genus atque fides et tenet una salus;
sanctus Alexander felixque Cicilia pollent,
   quos meritis omnes una corona manet.
Haec bonus antistes Vitale urguente Iohannes                           25
   condidit egregio viscera sancta loco.
O nimium felix, aeternum in lumen iture,
   cuius vita suo proficit ista deo!

'All you who hurry to the threshold of this sacred church, if you come as a suppliant, by prayer you will receive aid here. The structure that the holy bishop Vitalis erected, which in a short time was brought to a great height, he founded, built, endowed, then dedicated and duly paid his vow to raise this church. (7) There rest the venerable relics of holy Peter, who alone won the right to secure heaven with his key; in this apostolic hall Paul also finds a place, once a tempter, but who now rejoices to be called teacher; (10) this structure saintly Andrew lays claim to for himself and rules over it in the company of his holy brother; Laurence too fills this building of his with a tranquil fire, to whom a holy flame granted the gift of day with eternal light; (15) this is a dwelling favored by Vitalis, who buried alive in the earth won for himself the right to overcome the journey to death; the place holds Martin too, who clothed in his cloak the Lord: he caused himself to be stripped so as not to endure further chill; here is the shrine of Vigilius, whom a crowd of countrymen slaughtered: because of his willingness to die, instead death itself took flight; (21) together Marturius and Sisennus take up their dwelling in this place, whom a single family, faith, and salvation unite; holy Alexander and the blessed Cecilia lend their powerful presence: all these a single crown awaits for their merits. (25) These the good bishop John at Vitalis’s urging laid up as holy relics in this venerable site. O how very happy you are, destined to enter eternal light, whose actions in this life work to benefit his God!'


Text: Leo 1881, 8-9.
Translation: Roberts 2017, 15 and 16.

Cult building - independent (church)

Construction of cult buildings

Unspecified relic

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

Discussion

Bibliography