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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Eucherius of Lyon refers to the miracles of *Gregory the Miracle-Worker/Thaumatourgos (bishop and missionary in Pontus, S00687), in his treatise On Contempt for the World, written in Gaul, probably at Lérins, c. 432.

Evidence ID

E06112

Type of Evidence

Literary - Theological works

Literary - Letters

Eucherius, On contempt for the world and secular philosophy (De contemptu mundi et saecularis philosophiae), lines 371-377

Gregorius e Ponto sacerdos, philosophia primus apud mundum et eloquentia praestans, sed postea maior praestantiorque virtutibus, adeo ut, sicut de hoc historiae nostrae fides loquitur, inter reliqua admirabilium signa meritorum precibus huius atque orationibus mons referatur secessisse, lacus exaruisse.

'Gregory, Bishop of Pontus, was first in the world in philosophy and outstanding in eloquence; but afterwards greater and more outstanding in his miracles, to the extent that — as the faith of our history relates — among the other signs of his extraordinary merits, through his prayers and supplications a mountain is said to have moved and a lake to have dried up.'


Text: Pricoco 1990, p. 80.
Translation: David Lambert.

Miracles

Miracle during lifetime
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)

Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

Eucherius (380/390-c. 452) was a member of the senatorial aristocracy in Gaul, who settled with his family (his wife and two sons) at Lérins, the site of the monastic community founded c. 400-410 by *Honoratus (S00438). Eucherius and his family settled on an island neighbouring Honoratus', probably at some point in the decade from 410 to 420, and formed a kind of satellite community. It is not clear whether Eucherius ever joined the main, cenobitic community on the other island. In the mid 430s, Eucherius became bishop of Lyon; he died c. 451.

Eucherius was a major literary figure in 5th century Gaul: his surviving works comprise a tract on monasticism,
In Praise of the Desert (De laude eremi); two books on the Bible, the Instructiones, containing basic reference information, and the Formula spiritalis intellegentiae, a guide to interpretation; and the first known account of the martyrdom of the *Theban Legion, the Passion of the Agaunensian Martyrs (E06108).

On contempt for the world and secular philosophy (De contemptu mundi et saecularis philosophiae, CPL 493) is a tract in the form of a letter addressed to a relative of Eucherius named Valerianus. It argues that ascetic renunciation is a suitable life to be adopted by someone of an upper-class, educated background. Eucherius mentions (De contemptu, ed. Pricoco, p. 94) that he is writing in the 1185th year since the founding of Rome, which implies the year 432. At that point, Eucherius had not yet become bishop of Lyon and was probably still resident at Lérins.


Discussion

In part of De contemptu mundi (ed. Pricoco, lines 361-406), Eucherius lists a succession of 'noble' and educated predecessors whom he believes should inspire Valerianus, and it is in this context that he refers to Gregory Thaumaturgus. The other individuals mentioned are Clement of Rome, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea, Paulinus of Nola, Hilary of Arles, and Petronius of Bologna. These figures, some of whom were alive when Eucherius wrote, are presented as role models rather than saints to be venerated; only in the case of Gregory is there any reference to miracles.

The miracle performed by Gregory is taken from Rufinus ’ Latin version of the
Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius. The passage is an addition by Rufinus; it is not in Eusebius’ original (Rufinus’ text can be found in GCS, n.F. 6,2, pp. 953-5).


Bibliography

Edition:
Pricoco, S.,
Il Rifiuto del Mondo (Florence, 1990), with Italian translation.



Record Created By

David Lambert

Date of Entry

16/08/2018

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00687Gregory the Miracle-Worker (Thaumatourgos), bishop and missionary in Pontus, ob. c. 270GregoriusCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
David Lambert, Cult of Saints, E06112 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E06112