List of litanies and vigils at churches and monasteries of Auxerre (central Gaul), written in Latin at Auxerre in the time of Bishop Aunacharius (561-605), possibly in the period 585/592: churches mentioned are dedicated to *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. 448, S00455), *Amator (bishop of Auxerre, ob. 418, S01980), *Marianus (ascetic of Auxerre, 5th c., S02175), *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), *Valerianus (bishop of Auxerre, 4th c., S02176), *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), and monasteries dedicated to *Cyricus/Kyrikos (child martyr of Tarsus, S00007) and (without naming them directly), *Priscus and his companions (martyrs of Auxerre, S02412).
E05911
Liturgical texts - Other
Aunacharius, Schedule of litanies and vigils of the church of Auxerre
This schedule of rogations, litanies and vigils is quoted in its entirety in the section on Aunacharius in the Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre. The schedule consists of three lists. The first (not given here since it makes no reference to saints) is of days on which the people of different districts should carry out rogations. It is followed by the two lists below, the first giving churches and monasteries where litanies (religious processions) are to take place on the first day of each month, the second giving a list of institutions whose clerics and monks were to conduct the nightly vigils in the cathedral of Auxerre (the basilica of Stephen).
Item constituit, ut per duodecim mensium capita ita eedem celebrentur letanie:
Kalendis ianuarii, basilica domni Germani.
Kalendis februarii, basilica domni Amatoris.
Kalendis martii, monasterium domni Mariani.
Kalendis aprilis, basilica sancti Petri apostoli.
Kalendis mai, basilica domni Valeriani et monasterium Vulfini.
Kalendis iunii, basilica domni Martini.
Kalendis iulii, basilica domni Iuliani.
Kalendis augusti, monasterium Decimiacense ad Sanctum Ciricum.
Kalendis septembris, monasterium Fontanetense.
Kalendis octobris, monasterium Cotiacense ad sanctos.
Kalendis nouembris, monasterium Sassiacense.
Kalendis decembris, monasterium Mannacense.
Ceteris autem diebus mensium ut supra.
Pari uero conditione instituit ut omnibus dominicis diebus ab uniuersis archipresbyteris uel abbatibus taliter uigilie in propriis locis fiant. Hoc est a die sancto Pasche usque kalendas octobris, a prima sero usque ad inlucescentem diem, a kalendis uero octobris usque natalem Domini, a gallorum cantu et a natali Domini usque in Pascha a media nocte.
Item constituit a quibus uigilie in basilica sancti Stephani in civitate cum abbatibus celebrentur:
Dominica nocte, basilica domni Germani et monasterium Decimiacense.
Secunda feria, basilica domni Amatoris et monasterium Fonanetense.
Tertia feria, monasterium quod domnus Germanus construxit, ubi sanctus Marianus requiescit, simulque Sessiacus.
Quarta feria, basilica sancti Petri et monasterium Mannacense.
Quinta feria, basilica domni Martini et monasterium Vulfini.
Sexta feria, basilica domni Valeriani et monasterium quod dicitur Varennas.
'He also established that for the first days of the twelve months the same litanies were to be celebrated:
On the first of January the basilica of Lord Germanus. [bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 448, S00455]
On the first of February the basilica of Lord Amator. [bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 418, S01980]
On the first of March the monastery of Lord Marianus. [monk of Auxerre, fl. 450/480, S02175]
On the first of April the basilica of Saint Peter the Apostle. [S00036]
On the first of May the basilica of Lord Valerianus [bishop of Auxerre, 4th c., S02176] and the monastery of Vulfinus.
On the first of June the basilica of Lord Martin. [ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050]
On the first of July the basilica of Lord Julian. [martyr of Brioude, S00035]
On the first of August the monastery in Decimiacus at Saint Ciricus. [child martyr of Tarsus, S00007]
On the first of September the monastery in Fontanetus.
On the first of October the monastery in Cotiacus ad sanctos. [Priscus and companions, martyrs of Auxerre, S02412]
On the first of November the monastery in Sassiacus.
On the first of December the monastery in Mannacus.
On other days of the month as above.
By the same arrangement, he decreed that on all Sundays vigils were to be carried out in this way in their proper places by all archpriests or abbots. That is: from the holy Easter day up to the first of October, [vigils should be held] from the start of evening to the illumination of dawn. From the first of October to Christmas Day, from the crowing of the cocks, and from Christmas to Easter from midnight.
Furthermore he decreed by whom vigils were to be celebrated at the basilica of Saint Stephen [the first martyr, S00030] in the city, with the abbots:
On Sunday night, the basilica of Lord Germanus and the monastery in Decimiacus.
On the second day [Monday], the basilica of Lord Amator and the monastery in Fontanetus.
On the third day [Tuesday], the monastery which Lord Germanus built, where Saint Marianus rests, and at the same time Sessiacus.
On the fourth day [Wednesday], the basilica of Saint Peter and the monastery in Mannacus.
On the fifth day [Thursday], the basilica of Lord Martin and the monastery of Vulfinus.
On the sixth day [Saturday], the basilica of Lord Valerianus and the monastery which is called Varennas.'
Text: Sot et al. 2002, 73-77.
Translation: David Lambert.
Service for the saint
Procession
Cult PlacesCult building - independent (church)
Cult building - monastic
Places Named after SaintMonastery
Church
Non Liturgical ActivityVigils
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - lesser clergy
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Source
This schedule of litanies and vigils was issued by Aunacharius (Aunarius), bishop of Auxerre from 561 to 605, but survives because it was included in the 9th century historical compilation, The Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre (Gesta pontificum Autissiodorensium). It has no title in the Gesta but is cited in modern works with a title such as Institutio de rogationibus et vigiliis (Atsma 1983, 4), or similar. For detailed commentary on the Institutio, see Atsma 1983, 9-10, 66-8, 77-87.The Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre was compiled at Auxerre shortly after 872, the year of the death of the last bishop included in the original version (Sot et al. 2002, viii), by two clerics named Alagus and Rainogala. Like its presumed model, the Liber pontificalis, it consists of entries for each bishop from the founder of the see down to the time of composition (further entries were added later). It reproduces numerous documents, including letters, administrative documents, liturgical documents, wills, and acts of church councils: presumably they were found by the compilers in the archives of the see or of local institutions such as the monastery of St Germanus.
Discussion
The schedule of litanies and vigils mentions ten institutions named after or connected with saints, with the remainder identified in other ways, mostly by their location, but in one instance by the name of an individual, presumably its founder (the monastery of Vulfinus). The nature of the schedule means that it almost certainly contains a comprehensive list of the churches and monasteries in Aunacharius' diocese (Atsma 1983, 9) that had monks or clerics attached to them (i.e. not necessarily small shrines or oratories).The introduction to the schedule in the Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre (Sot et al. 2002, 71; Duru 1851, 328) states that it was approved by King Guntram, which, if reliable, means that it dates from before his death in 592. A plausible though conjectural argument for narrowing the possible date range to 585-592 was put forward by Atsma 1983, 8-9, on the basis that the schedule may have been promulgated by Aunacharius at a diocesan synod at Auxerre attended by numerous abbots and clerics from the diocese, the acts of which survive (see E05897). Atsma dated this council to 585 or later on the basis of the numerous parallels in its canons to those of the Council of Mâcon, which took place in that year.
The schedule mentions the institutions listed below (omitting those not connected to a saint). References are given for the often very detailed discussions of the evidence for each one presented by Atsma 1983, and the briefer discussions in Picard 1992.
'The basilica of Lord Germanus' (list of litanies, list of vigils)
This was the extramural basilica in which Germanus was buried (cf. E05847, E02136, E02606). See Atsma 1983, 12-21, and Picard 1992, 58-9.
'The basilica of Lord Amator' (list of litanies, list of vigils)
The extramural basilica which contained the tomb of Amator, Germanus' predecessor. This is the earliest surviving reference to it. See Atsma 1983, 21-22; Picard 1992, 60-61.
'The monastery of Lord Marianus' (list of litanies)
'The monastery which Lord Germanus built, where Saint Marianus rests' (list of vigils)
This is the monastery founded by Germanus of Auxerre on the far side of the River Yonne from the town of Auxerre (Life of Germanus 6). In the entry in the Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre for Germanus' immediate successor Alodius (Sot et al. 2002, 50-51; Duru 1851, 321-2), it is stated that during his episcopate Marianus (PCBE 4, 'Marianus 1') became a monk in this monastery, and lived a life of such holiness that when he died he was venerated as a saint. The Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre dates only from the 9th century, and no earlier account of Marianus' life survives; an extant Life (BHL 5523) dates from no earlier than the late 9th century (van Egmond 2006, 133). However, the presence of his name here, in the will of Desiderius of Auxerre (E05912), and in the Ordinance of Tetricus (E05916), shows that his cult was a real one and was established by the late 6th century, to the extent that the monastery across the Yonne came to be known by his name rather than that of Germanus. See Atsma 1983, 30-40; Picard 1992, 57; van Egmond 2006, 131-4.
'The basilica of Saint Peter' (list of litanies, list of vigils)
The first attestation of this church. In the will of Aunacharius' successor Desiderius, it is referred to as the basilica of Peter and Paul (E05912). Aunacharius is known to have received relics from Rome on at least two occasions (E05712, E06028); it is possible that he established the church to receive them, though this is conjectural (Picard 1992, 62). See also Atsma 1983, 22-3.
'The basilica of Lord Valerianus' (list of litanies, list of vigils)
Valerianus is presumed to be the bishop of Auxerre of the same name attested in the mid 4th century (PCBE 4, 'Valerianus 1'). This document is the only source to mention a basilica dedicated to him. It may have been a funerary basilica. See Atsma 1983, 23-4; Picard 1992, 61.
'The basilica of Lord Martin' (list of litanies, list of vigils)
The first attestation of this church, which is known from later sources such as the will of Desiderius of Auxerre (E05912) to have been situated across the River Yonne from the town of Auxerre and to have been attached to a women's monastery. Atsma 1983, 24-6; Picard 1992, 61.
'The basilica of Lord Julian' (list of litanies)
The first attestation of this church. The reference to it in the will of Desiderius (E05912) shows that there was a monastic foundation attached to it. Picard 1992, 65, suggests that the reference in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum entry for 15 April to the dedication of an altar to Julian at Auxerre (E04776) is to this basilica. See also Atsma 1983, 26-9.
'The monastery in Decimiacus at saint Ciricus' (list of litanies)
In the list of litanies, this monastery at a rural site outside Auxerre is identified by its dedication (or the dedication of the attached basilica) to Ciricus; in the list of vigils only by its location. Ciricus (Kyrikos, Cyricus) is the child martyr of Tarsus, often venerated together with his mother Iulitta. Though eastern saints by origin, their cult is well-attested in Gaul (see e.g. E00005, E07720). The association of Ciricus with the site was strong enough that his name replaced the original place name of Decimiacus (present-day Saint-Cyr-les-Colons), even though the monastery itself is not attested except in this document. See Atsma 1983, 41-2.
'The monastery in Cotiacus ad sanctos' (list of litanies)
Cotiacus was believed to be the site of the martyrdom of Priscus and his companions, so the reference to sanctos here must be to them. As with Decimiacus and Ciricus, the epithet ad sanctos ultimately replaced the original place name (present-day Saints-en-Puisaye). This may be the earliest surviving reference to the cult of Priscus, depending on the date of his surviving Martyrdom (E06510). See Atsma 1983, 44-5.
'The basilica of Saint Stephen' (list of vigils)
This was the cathedral at Arles. This schedule is the earliest surviving text to mention that it was dedicated to Stephen: it is not clear whether this dedication dated back to the rise of Stephen's cult in the 5th century or was more recent (Picard 1992, 54).
Bibliography
Editions:Sot, M., Lobrichon, G., and Goullet, M., Les gestes des évêques d'Auxerre, vol. 1 (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2002), with French translation.
Duru, L.-M., Bibliothèque historique de l'Yonne, vol. 1 (Auxerre, 1851), 329-330.
Further reading:
Atsma, H., "Klöster und Mönchtum im Bistum Auxerre bis zum Ende des 6. Jahrhunderts," Francia, 11 (1983), 1-96.
Picard, J.-C., "Auxerre," in: N. Gauthier and J.-C. Picard (eds.), Topographie chrétienne des cités de la Gaule des origines au milieu du VIIIe siècle, vol. 8: Province ecclésiastique de Sens (Lugdunensis Senonia) (Paris: Boccard, 1992), 47-65.
van Egmond, W.S., Conversing with the Saints: Communication in Pre-Carolingian Hagiography from Auxerre (Turnhout: Brepols, 2006).
David Lambert
30/10/2023
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00007 | Kyrikos/Cyricus and Ioulitta/Julitta, child and his mother, martyrs of Tarsus | Ciricus | Certain | S00030 | Stephen, the First Martyr | Stephanus | Certain | S00035 | Julian, martyr of Brioude (southern Gaul) | Iulianus | Certain | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Petrus | Certain | S00050 | Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397 | Martinus | Certain | S00455 | Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, ob. 445/450 | Germanus | Certain | S01980 | Amator, bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 418 | Amator | Certain | S02175 | Marianus, monk of Auxerre, 5th c. | Marianus | Certain | S02176 | Valerianus, bishop of Auxerre, mid 4th c. | Valerianus | Certain | S02412 | Priscus and companions, martyrs of Auxerre | Certain |
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