The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Martyrdom of Saint Germanus (Passio sancti Germani) (BHL 3467, CPL 2106)

Summary

(Prologue) Bobolenus, 'lowest of all priests' (exiguus omnium presbyterorum) addresses the 'fathers' (patres) Dicuil, Leodemund and Ingofrid, who have commissioned him to write the work, based on what they themselves had 'not heard, but seen' (non audita sed uisa); he also includes what he has learned from the venerable men Chadoald and Aridius.

(1) On Germanus' background: how he was born in the city of Trier to a senatorial family. How, when he was still a small boy (infantulus) he was entrusted to Modoald, bishop of Trier, who recognised his talent and took care of his education. (2) How Germanus 'flourished in learning and sanctity' (in scientia et sanctitate pollere) and, (3) when he turned seventeen, asked Modoald to allow him to enter a monastery, which the bishop resisted on account of his young age and lack of royal permission. (4) How Germanus, 'bold and confident in the Lord' (audax, confidens in Domino), left anyway with three boys, and sought out the blessed *Arnulf (bishop of Metz, ob. c. 640, S02103), at that time living 'in the desert' (in heremo) at Hornberg, who tonsured him.

(5) On his entry into the monastery of blessed *Romaric (abbot of Habendum (Remiremont), ob. 653, S02973) with his brother Numerianus, (6) and from there into Luxeuil, at that time under the authority of Abbot Waldebert, who had him ordained as a priest. (7-8) On the new monastery Waldebert founded at Grandval on land gifted by Gundoin, (9) where he installed Germanus as abbot.

(10) On the death of Duke Gundoin, and his succession by Duke Boniface, then Duke Chatalrich/Chaticus, who began to oppress the people in the region around Grandval, accusing them of being rebels. (11) How, when Germanus heard that Chaticus was approaching the region with an army, he set out to meet him, taking with him relics (pignera) of saints, books, and his prior Randoald. How he found Chaticus in the basilica of *Maurice (commander of the Theban Legion, martyrs of Agaune, S00339), taking counsel with Count Erich (peruenit ad Chaticum et inuenit eum in basilica sancti Mauricii cum Ericho comite, consiiantes in invicem): there, he chastised him, and received Chaticus' pledge (wadium), made with 'with false humility' (falsa humilitate), that he would 'make satisfaction in all things' (de omnibus satis esse facturum).

(12) On his martyrdom. How, on their way back, he and Rainoald were followed on the road by men possessed by demons (homines pleni daemonio), who robbed them of their clothes (expoliauerunt uestimentis suis). How Germanus, seeing that he was about to be martyred (cerneret... martyrium suum prope adesse), gave thanks to God that he and Rainoald might be received "into the company of your saints" (in consortio sanctorum tuum), whereupon 'a voice came down to him from the sky' (uox ei de caelo uenit), replying that "the heavens are open to you; my angels rejoice, and lead you into the celestial Jerusalem" (aperti sunt ibi caeli; congaudent tibi angeli mei et perducent te in caelestem Hierusalem). How one of the men then struck Germanus and Rainoald at the same time with a spear (lancea perfodit eum simulque et Randoaldum): 'his corpse remained lifeless, but his soul entered heaven' (corpus remansit exanime, anima autem illius penetrauit ad caelos).

(13) On the discovery of Germanus' and Rainoald's bodies by some brothers at the third hour of the night. How they took Germanus' body to the basilica of *Ursicinus (probably the monk of Luxeuil and hermit of Jura, 6th-7th c., S02977) which he himself had constructed, 'and laid him out naked before the sight of God' (deferunt eum in basilicam domni Ursinici suo opere constructum, prosternentes eum nudum ante conspectum Dei): this took place on the night of the vigil of the Chair of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) (acta sunt haec ipsa noce in uigilia cathedrae sancti Petri). How, as the brothers (of Grandval) were keeping that vigil (ad uigilias excubarent), a messenger came and brought them the news: Germanus was then brought to the basilica of Saint Peter for burial.

(14) On the miracles that occurred over the course of the next year (post haec, redeunte anni circulo). On the flash of lightning (lumen coruscans) that was seen to come down from heaven at the place where Germanus was murdered, on the night before Christmas (in ipsa uigilia noctis natalis Domini, ubi interfectum corpus beati antistis fuit, e caelo uenisse).

(15) How, on the very day Germanus had been killed, one of the brothers discovered his belt (cingulum, bracile) among a group of enemy soldiers (inter hostium cuneus), and brought it to the monastery's vestry (uestiarium): the monks, 'praising it as a gift from heaven' (munus de caelo prolatum ouantes), took it to the church, and 'set it up to hang among the relics of the saints' (eum in ecclesia infra pignera sanctorum pendere fecerunt). How, later, a local man sick with a fever was brought to the monastery, 'and when he reached the threshold of the church, he saw the belt of the holy Germanus hanging on the wall. Then with a great shout he began to ask whether he might touch it. Then one of the deacons filled a cup of water and immersed [the belt in it], and he gave it to the sick man to drink, and as soon as he drank it, he returned to his former health and gave thanks to God' (cumque ecclesiae limen attegisset, aspexit cingulum Germani parietem pendentem. Tunc coepit cum eiulato magno precari, ut eum contingere liceret. Tunc unus de diaconibus repleuit calicem aquae et inmersit, dedit bibere egroto, et statim ut bibit, ad pristinam rediit sanitatem et Deo gratias egit).


Text: Krusch 1910.
Summary: B. Savill.

Service for the saint

Saint’s feast
Anniversary of relic invention/translation
Dating by saint’s festival

Cult building - monastic
Cult building - independent (church)
Burial site of a saint - unspecified
Place of martyrdom of a saint

Monastery

Visiting graves and shrines
Vigils
Construction of cult buildings
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Oral transmission of saint-related stories

Miracle after death
Miracle at martyrdom and death
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Healing diseases and disabilities

Bodily relic - entire body
Unspecified relic
Contact relic - saint’s possession and clothes
Discovering, finding, invention and gathering of relics
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics

Relatives of the saint
Aristocrats
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Soldiers
Torturers/Executioners
Demons
Angels
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy

Source

Discussion

Bibliography