The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Pardessus, Diplomata

275. Burgundofaro, bishop of Meaux, grants privileges to the monastery of Peter, Paul and other saints at Rebais (1 March 637, Clichy)
Dominis sanctis [...] Burgundofaro supplex vester in Domino praesumit mittere salutem [...] Et quia bonae indolis illustris viri Dadonis referendarii religiosa postulatio nostrarum quippe aurium intima penetravit, quae et viscerale pietatis affectu, ita cor intrinsecus caritatis suae petitio mollivit, ut petita non concedere, aut arte libentissime non implere, nostri duntaxat animi irreligiosum fore putaretur. Sancti igitur desiderii ardore succensus pariter Dado et Rado ejusque germani, Caenobii septa, et ad honorem SS. Petri et Pauli et caeterorum basilicam intra eremi secreta, loco nuncupante Rebascis, construxerunt, quod gloriosissimi domini Dagoberti regis largitatis munere certi sunt meruisse [...] nostrae utilitatis extremitati supplici deprecationis petitione poposcerunt, ut et nos fratresque nostri, Meldensis Ecclesiae proprium inibi deberemus privilegium impertire [...] Et ne hoc nos proprii deliberationis instinctu sacerdotalis posteritas aestimet decrevisse, quum etiam sub hujus constitutionis norma Agaunensium locum, imoque et monasteria Lirinensium, Luxoviensium, vel basilica domini Marcelli […] eatenus fuit sancitum […] Actum Clipiaco, sub die kalendarum Martii, anno xv regni Domini et filii nostri Dagoberti gloriosi regis.

'To his holy lords... Burgundofaro, your supplicant in the Lord, presumes to send greetings... And so the religious petition of that illustrious man of good nobility, Dado, the referendary, has come to our ears, conveyed with sincere piety, and his charitable petition has so inwardly softened [our] heart, that were we not to grant what has been sought, or fulfil it most gladly, one would think our soul irreligious. Therefore, enflamed with burning desire, Dado, and equally his brother Rado, have asked with utmost supplication that both we, of the church of Meaux, and our brothers, might grant a privilege to the monastic enclosure constructed in the place called Rebais, and to the basilica in honour of Saints Peter and Paul and other saints which is within that place of solitude, known to have been rewarded by the largesse of the most glorious lord, King Dagobert (I)... And sacerdotal posterity should not think that we have decreed this out of some kind of impulsive whim of our own, since the place of Agaune, as well as the monasteries of Lérins, Luxeuil, and the basilica of the Lord Marcellus… have until now been established under a rule of this kind… Enacted at Clichy, on the day of the Kalends of March, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our lord and son Dagobert (I), the most glorious king.’

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320. Landeric, bishop of Paris, grants privileges to the monastery of Dionysius, Rusticus and Eleutherius (bishop and martyr of Paris, and his companions) (Saint-Denis) (1 July 654)
Divina largiente gratia, Landericus, Parisiorum Ecclesiae episcopus […] Quoniam noverit omnium catholicae Ecclesiae cultorum generalis universitas quod domnus gloriosissimus Clodoveus, Francorum rex, divino irradiatus lumine, religiosa petitione humilitatis nostrae extremitatem poposcit, ut et nos, et canonicorum nostrorum communis fraternitas, securitatis et incommutabilitatis privilegium ederemus, pro reverentia sancti Dionysii, sociorumque ejus Rustici et Eleutherii, qui cum eo laurea martyrii sunt redimiti, ad basilicam ipsorum, ubi ipsi corpore requiescunt, et in virtutum miraculis coruscant, et ubi Dagobertus, genitor suus, quondam rex, vel genitrix sua Nanthildis regina, sepulturas habere videntur […] Facto privilegio sub die kalendarum Julii, in anno quinto decimo, regnante Clodoveo, gloriosissimo rege […]

'Landeric, by the gift of divine grace bishop of the church of Paris… Thus it is known to all the worshippers of the universal catholic church that the most glorious lord Clovis (II), king of the Franks, shining with divine light, has asked our worthy self with a petition of religious humility, that we, and the canons of our fraternity, might draw up a privilege of immoveable security, out of reverence for Saint Dionysius, and his companions Rusticus and Eleutherius, who were redeemed with him by the laurel of martyrdom, for their basilica where they themselves rest in body, which shines out with their miracles, and where Dagobert (I), his father, the former king, and his mother Nanthild are both seen to be buried… This privilege was drawn up on the day of the Kalends of July, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Clovis (III), the most glorious king…'

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333. Emmo, bishop of Sens, grants privileges to the monastery of Columba (virgin and martyr of Sens) and Lupus (bishop of Sens, ob. c. 620) at Sens (24 August 660)
Dilectissimo in Christi amore, et honorabile fratri Agoni abbati, et omnium fratrum congregationi consistentium in basilica ubi sancta Columba et beatus Lupus pontifex sub opidum Senonis civitate requiescunt in corpore, sui superna dispensatione praees, Emmo divino munere ac si indignus sanctae Senonicae Ecclesiae episcopus […] Sed et in his provinciis plura alia regalia monasteria, tam antiquiore tempore quam nuper constructa, a pontificibus in quorum territoriis condita sunt, gratia religionis et caritatis, privilegia acceperunt. In fine, ne cuncta numerando in longum protraham sermonem, pauca et praecipua vel vicina, sufficiet memorare antiqua Lirinensium et Luxoviensium, vel ad basilicam beati Marcelli Cavilloni constructa […] Quam petitionem sanctitas tua, venerabilis frater, noverit libentissime velle me tibi praestare [….] Datum sub die septimo kalendas Septembres, anno tertio regnante domno Chlothario glorioso rege.

‘To his most cherished in Christ’s love and his honourable brother, Abbot Ago, and all of the community of brothers in the basilica where Saint Columba and the blessed Bishop Lupus rest in body in the stronghold of the city of Sens, over whom you preside by heavenly dispensation: Emmo, by God’s gift, although unworthy, Bishop of Sens… Beloved brother, your sanctity should know that I wish to provide for such a petition of yours most gladly… And there are in these provinces many other royal monasteries, some constructed in ancient times, others more recently, founded with the grace of religion and charity by the bishops in their provinces, which have received such privileges. So as not to name them all in a long protracted speech, it will suffice to mention ancient Lérins, Luxeuil, and also the basilica of Marcellus constructed in Chalon… Given on the day of the 7 Kalends of September, in the third year of the reign of Lord Chlothar (III), the glorious king.’

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335. Emmo, bishop of Sens, grants privileges to the monastery of Peter and Paul (the Apostles) at Sens (659/60, Malay-le-Petit)
Dominis sanctis [...] Emmo peccator supplex vester in Domino praesumit mittere salutem [...] Et quia vir venerabilis Aghilenus abba, una cum fratribus secum consistentibus, de monasterio Sancti Petri et Pauli, quem domina Theodechildis regina quondam suo opere construxit, vel ipsa ibidem videtur habere sepulchrum, sub opidum Senonis civitate, religionis suggestionis postulatio nostrarum quippe aurium intima penetravit, quae in viscerale pietatis affectu ita cor intrinsecus suae petitionem molivit, ut petita non concedere, aut certe libentissime non implere, nostrae duntaxat animae inreligioso fore potarent [...] etiam sub hujus regulae disciplina, sanctorum locum Agaunensium, immoque monasteria Lirinensis, Luxoviensis, vel basilica domni Marcelli […] eatenus fuisse sancitum […] Actum Mansolaco, curte dominica, anno tertio regni domini nostri Clotharii regis […]

'To his holy lords... Emmo, sinner, your supplicant in the Lord, presumes to send greetings... And so the religious petition of the venerable man Abbot Agilenus, together with the brothers of the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul - which the lady Theodechild, the late queen, constructed at her own expense, the same place which is seen to possess her tomb, in the stronghold of the city of Sens - has come to our ears, conveyed with sincere piety, and has so inwardly softened (our) heart, that were we not to grant what has been sought, or fulfil it most gladly, one would think our soul irreligious... Also, the place of the saints of Agaune, as well Lérins, Luxeuil, and the basilica of the Lord Marcellus… have up to now been established under the discipline of this rule… Enacted at Malay(-le-Petit), in the lord’s court, in the third year of the reign of our lord King Chlothar (III)…’

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344. Audomarus, bishop of Thérouanne, grants privileges to the monastery of Mary, Peter and Paul (the Apostles), and other saints at Sithiu (19 April 663, Sithiu)
Dominis sanctis [...] Audomarus, Christi gratia Taruanninsae Ecclesiae episcopus [...] Quia placuit nobis juxta fraternalem consensum et viscerale pietatis affectu, ita cor nostrum intrinsecus mollivit, ut basilica in insula Sitdiu, ubi inantea monasterium in Dei nomine edificatus esse videtur, et regulariter viventes aderant monachi sub libertate constituti, ibidem pariter cum ipsis monachis, pro eorum consolatione vel adjuratio, basilicam communi opere, ad corporum eorum vel nostrum quiescenda edificavimus, in honorem sanctae Mariae, genetricis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ut in suprascripta basilica, juxta ipsorum fratrum plenissimam caritatem, in ejus locello corpusculum meum post obitum meum ibidem depositus vel conditus deberet [...] [...] Per quod decerno, et juxta consensum fratrum cleri Taruannensis, vel illustribus viris, personas interdico, ut ipsa basilica sub imraculo patricinii abbatis Bertini, qui nunc temporis in antedico monasterio presse videtur […] Et quod ad ipso altario in Dei nomine fuerit oblatum a quibuscumque Deo inspirante transmisso, nihil sibi exinde, pro reverentia sancte Marie, in cujus honore ipsa basilica vel reliquorum sanctorum constructa esse videtur, pontifex aut ejus archidiaconus, vel quilibet ordinator Ecclesiae Taruannensis, audeat vindicare [...] pro reverentia sancte Marie, vel Petri et Pauli apostolorum [...] Actum ad ipsa basilica, sub die XVIII kalendas Maii, anno VI regni domini nostri Clothacarii regis [...]

'To his holy lords... Audomarus, by Christ's grace bishop of the church of Thérouanne... And since this has pleased us, according to brotherly consensus and the affection of sincere piety, our heart is inwardly softened, so that at the church on the island of Sithiu (where a monastery in the name of God is already seen to have been constructed, and where monks were established in liberty, and lived according to a rule) we too have constructed by communal expense a basilica with these very monks, for their consolation and support, where their bodies and ours might rest, in honour of Saint Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that in the aforesaid basilica, according to the abundant charity of these brothers, my meagre body might after my death be laid to rest and buried in a tomb there… Therefore I decree, and with the consent of the brother clerics of Thérouanne, and illustrious men, I forbid this to any persons, that at that basilica under the shadow of the protection of Abbot Bertinus, who is now seen to preside over that aforesaid monastery… And the bishop, or his archdeacon, or the ordinator of the church of Thérouanne must not dare to claim whatever has been offered and by God’s inspiration granted by anyone to its altar in God’s name, out of reverence for Saint Mary, in whose honour, and that of other saints, this basilica is seen to have been consecrated… out of reverence for Saint Mary and the Apostles Peter and Paul… Enacted in this very basilica, on the day of the 18 Kalends of May (19 April), in the sixth year of the reign of our lord, King Chlothar (III)…‘

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345. Berthefrid, bishop of Amiens, grants privileges to the monastery of Peter and Paul (the Apostles) and Stephen (the First Martyr) at Corbie (6 September 664, in Captonnaco)
Dominis sanctis [...] Berthefridus, munere superni largatoris Ambianensis Ecclesie episcopus. Et quia gloriossimus domnus Choltharius rex, nec non et praecelsa domna Balthildis regina, divino inluminati auxilio, monasterium suo opere, Christo praesule, in loco nuncupatur Corbeia construxerunt, religiosam petitionem nostris auribus patefecerunt, quae viscerali pietatis affectu ita cor intrinsecus mollivit, ut petitia non concedere, aut certe libentissime non implesse, noster animus inreligiosam fore putaret. Sancto igitur amore succensi, nostrae vilitatis extremitatem petierunt ut et nos et vestra fraternitas consentientes, pro reverentia sanctorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum, et sancti Stephani protomartyris, qui ob gloriosum ac triumphale votum pro amore Christi coronam martyrii consequuti sunt, ad praedictum monasterium in eorum honore constructum, privilegium concedere deberemus […] Nam et Agaunensium quod, velut istud, regio est munere ditatum, et Lirenensium, vel basilica domni Marcelli immoque et monasterium Luxoviense, hoc videntur habere concessum [….] Factum hoc privilegium sub die octavo idus Septembris, anno VII regnante Clotario rege, Captonnaco in palatio publico [...]

'To his holy lords… Berthefrid, by the gift of the heavenly bestower, bishop of the church of Amiens… And because the most glorious lord, King Chlothar (III), and also the most excellent lady, Queen Balthild, aided by divine illumination, have constructed through their expense a monastery, with Christ presiding, in the place which is called Corbie, they have revealed their religious petition to our ears, which has thus inwardly softened our heart with its sincere piety, so that were we not to grant what has been sought, or not fulfil it most gladly, one would think our soul irreligious. Therefore, inflamed with love, they have petitioned our unworthy, vile self, so that both we and our fraternity might consent to grant a privilege to this monastery, out of reverence for Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles, and Saint Stephen the First Martyr - who through their glory and triumphal vow, for their love of Christ, took the crown of martyrdom - in whose honour the aforesaid monastery is constructed… For this is also seen to have been granted at Agaune, just as it is enriched by royal gifts, and also at Lérins, and the basilica of the Lord Marcellus, and so too the monastery of Luxeuil… This privilege was drawn up on the day of the 8 Ides of September, in the seventh year of the reign of King Chlothar, in the public palace of Captonnaco…'

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355. Drauscius, bishop of Soissons, grants privileges to the women's monastery of Mary, Genovefa (ascetic of Paris, ob. c. 502), and other saints at Soissons (26 June 667, Soissons)
Dominis sanctis [...] Drauscius, acsi indignus episcopus, supplex in Domino mittit salutem… Et quia bonae vitae inluster vir Ebroinus, major-domus, ejusque inlustris matrona Leutrudis, et eorum unicus dilectissimus filius Bovo, religiosa postulatio eorum aurium nostrarum forensis pulsantes auditus, intima etiam cordis penetrarunt archana, quatinus et viscerale pietatis affectum, ita cor intrinsecus caritatis eorum petitio molliret, ut petita non concedere aut certe libentissime quae petuntur non implere, nostrae animae inreligiosum fore putarent. Sancti igitur desiderii ardore succensi, intra coenubii septa basilicas in honore sanctae Mariae, genitricis Domini nostri Jesu-Christi, et sancti Petri et sanctae Genuvevae vel ceterorum sanctorum, in loco nuncupatur intra murus urbis Suessionis civitatis construxerunt, ubi puellae virgines ac Deo sacratae Etheriae abbatissae, relicta pompa seculi, sub regula beatissimorum patrum [...] sunt conlocatae, nostrae vilitatis extremitate supplice deprecationis petitione deposcerunt [...] Et nec nos subsidua fraternitas sacerdotum praesens privilegium propria deliberatione aut nova adinventione aestimet decrevisse aut indulsisse, cum ad hujus constitutionis normam sanctorum Agauenensium locum, immoque et monasterium Lirinensis et Luxuviensis vel basilica sancti Marcelli […] Actum Augusta Suession. Sub die VI kal. Jul. An. X domini nostri Chlotarii gloriosissimi regis […]

'To his holy lords… Drauscius, bishop, although unworthy, a supplicant in the Lord, sends greetings… And because that illustrious man of good life, Ebroin, mayor of the household, and his illustrious matron Leutrude, and their most beloved only son Bovo, have beaten upon the outsides of our ears with their pious request, they have penetrated into the innermost ark of our heart, so that, with the affection of sincere piety, their petition of charity has inwardly softened our heart, so that were we not to grant what has been asked, or not fulfil it most gladly, one would think our soul irreligious. Therefore, enflamed with ardent desire for the basilicas, within the enclosure of a monastery, in honour of Saint Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Saint Peter, Saint Geneovefa, and other saints, which they have constructed within the walls of the city called Soissons, where virgin girls and the abbess consecrated to God, Etheria, are established, they have petitioned our unworthy, vile self… And the fraternity of priests who come after us should not think that we have at present decreed or granted this privilege according to our own whim, or through a kind of new invention, since such a constitution is that of the place of the saints of Agaune, as well as the monasteries of Lérins and Luxeuil and the basilica of Saint Marcellus… Enacted at Soissons Augusta, on the day of the 6 Kalends of July, in the tenth year of our lord Chlothar (III), the most glorious king…'

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360. Numerianus, bishop of Trier, grants privileges to the monastery called Galilea dedicated to Mary, Peter and Paul (the Apostles) and their companions, and Maurice, Exsuperius, Candidus and their companions (the Theban Legion, martyrs of Agaune) (before 678)
Dominis sanctis […] Numerianus […] Et quia venerabilis vir Deodatus episcopus religiosa posulatione aurium nostrarum intima penetravit viscerale pietatis affectu, ita cor nostrum intrinsecus mollivit […] Sancti igitur desiderii ardore succensus, supradictus Deodatus episcopus coenobii septa in honore sanctae Dei genetricis Mariae, vel sanctorum Petri et Pauli et sociorum eorum, et sancti Maurici, Exsuperii et Candidi, vel sociorum eorum, basilicas intra eremi secretum locum nuncupante Galilea, quod prius Juncturas vocabatur, in proprietate autem sua quam ex fisci largitate promeruit, monasterium construxit […] et nostrae vilitatis extremitatem supplici deprecatione poposcit ut nos fratresque nostri illi ecclesiae ibidem deberemus previlegium impertire […]

'To his holy lords… Numerianus… That venerable man, Bishop Deodatus, has brought his religious request to our ears and, with the affection of sincere piety, inwardly softened our heart… enflamed with the ardour of holy desire, he has constructed, within the enclosure of a monastery, basilicas in honour of Mary, the holy mother of God, and Saints Peter and Paul and their companions, and Saint Maurice with Exsuperius and Candidus and their companions, in the discrete, deserted place known as Galilea, which was formerly called Juncturas, on his own property as well as what was granted from the fisc… and he has petitioned our unworthy, vile self, that we and our brothers might grant a privilege to that same monastery…'

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401. Aredius, bishop of Vaison, grants privileges to the monastery of Victor (unspecified, perhaps of the martyr of Marseille) and Peter (the Apostle) at Groseau (1 February 683)
In nomine Domini Jesu Christi, domnis venerabilibus atque dilectissimis […] Aredius sive Petruinus, sedis ecclesiae Vasensis civitatis, ac si indignus, Domino dispensante, pontifiex […] Ideoque monasterium aliquod in suburbano civitatis, in loco cujus vocabulum Grasello, quod nos in honore S. Victoris et sancti Petri vel reliquuorum domnorum sanctorum ecclesiarum visi sumus contruxisse, placuit nobis ut […] Tamen olim anteriores nostri a Lerinensi monasteria vel Agaunensium, et sancti Marcelli martyris ecclesiae Cabilonensium, nec non et Lugdunensium et Viennensium, seu et omnia Galliarum, quae monasterio privilegiorum constructi sumpserunt principium […] Factum privilegium kal. Febroarias, anno decimo regni domni nostri Theoderici regis […]

'In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to his venerable and beloved lords… Aredius, also known as Petruinus, bishop, although unworthy, of the see of the church of the city of Vaison, by God’s dispensation… And for that reason it pleases us that the monastery which is the suburbs of the city, in the place which is called Groseau, which we have been seen to have constructed in honour of Saint Victor and Saint Peter and other holy lords of the churches… And in other times those who came before us, at the monasteries of Lérins and Agaune, and at Saint Marcellus, the martyr of Chalon, and also at Lyons and Vienne, and across all of Gaul, acquired the privileges of princes for the monasteries they had constructed… This privilege was drawn up on the Kalends of February, in the tenth year of the reign of our lord, King Theuderic (III)…’

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423. Bertoendus, bishop of Châlons, grants privileges to the monastery of the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, and ‘all’ saints at Montier-en-Der (Reims, 15 February 692)
Dominis sanctis […] Bertoendus, licet indignus, in ordine tamen Cathalaunensium episcopus, suplex in Domino mitto salutem […] Quoniam igitur gloriosus domnus Clodoveus rex, et uir inlustris Pipinus, major-domus, pie religiosa sollicitudine perspicue nobis postulasse noscuntur, ut privilegium monasterio Putiolos, in vasta Dervi, in honore beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli et sancti Johannis Baptiste et sancti Johannis evangelistae, seu et omnium sanctorum, a viro religiosissimo sancto Berchario, ubi et ipse abbas preesse videtur, ex munificentia quondam Childerici regis constructo […] conferre debemus. […] et ne succidua fraternitas sacerdotum hos nos in his regionibus proprie deliberationis instinctu, aut nova inventione, estimet decreta fuisse, cum sub hujus constitutionis norma, sanctorum Agaunensium locus, immoque et monasterium Lirinense, seu et monasterium Luxoviense, multaque alia monasteria, nec non et basilica domini Marcelli, et inummera in orientis partibus monasteria, propriis ex decreto pontificum servantur privilegiis […] Actum Remis, publice. Data quem fecit mense Febr. die XV, anno secundo gloriosi domni nostri Clodovei regis.

‘To his holy lords… I Bertoendus, although unworthy, nevertheless ordained bishop of Châlons, supplicant in the Lord, send greetings… Therefore the glorious lord, King Clovis (IV), and the illustrious man Pippin, mayor of the household, are known to have asked us with their manifest religious sollicitude, that we might grant a privilege to the monastery of Putiolos (‘The Little Well’), in the wilderness of Der, which was constructed through the munificence of the former King Childeric in honour of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and all the saints, where the most religious and holy man Berchar is seen to preside as abbot… And the fraternity of priests who came after us in these regions must not think that this was decreed according to some impulsive will of our own, our through a kind of new invention, since at the place of the saints of Agaune, and moreover the monastery of Lérins, and the monastery of Luxeuil, and many other monasteries, and also the basilica of the Lord Marcellus, and in immunerable monasteries in the East, norms of this kind are preserved by their own privileges of episcopal decree… Enacted publicly at Reims. Given on the day of the 15 Kalends of February, in the second year of our glorious lord, King Clovis.’

Text: Pardessus 1843-9, ii. 39-41, 95-7, 109-11, 112-14, 123-5, 126-8, 138-41, 147-8, 191-5, 221-2.
Translation: B. Savill.

Cult building - monastic
Burial site of a saint - unspecified
Altar

Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Awarding privileges to cult centres
Burial ad sanctos
Construction of cult buildings
Appropriation of older cult sites

Miracle after death
Unspecified miracle

Unspecified relic
Bodily relic - entire body

Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Monarchs and their family
Aristocrats
Family
Women
Ecclesiastics - abbots

Source

Discussion

Bibliography