The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Venantius Fortunatus, Life of Germanus of Paris (BHL 3468)

Summary:

[Other saints, whose cult features in the story, are highlighted in bold.]

1. Eusebia, a noblewoman of Autun, becomes pregnant with Germanus soon after giving birth to another child and attempts to abort the foetus, first with a potion and then by lying on her stomach. 'His mother struggled with the little one, the infant resisted from the womb; so a battle occurred between the woman and her unborn child' (Certabatur mater cum parvulo, renitebat infans ab utero: erat ergo pugna inter mulierem et viscera). Germanus wins the struggle and is born unharmed.

2. When Germanus is a boy attending school at Avallon (Avallone castro) with a close relative, Stratidius, the latter’s mother attempts to murder the saint by putting poison in his cup of wine, in order to receive his inheritance. Her servant girl mistakenly gives the cup to Stratidius, who becomes severely ill but does not die.

3. Germanus goes to Lausia [perhaps Laizy, Saone-et-Loire] to be trained in asceticism by his relative Scupilio. Within fifteen years he is made a deacon by Agrippinus, and within another three years he is made a presbyter. Later he is made abbot of the monastery of saint *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322) at Autun by bishop Nectarius. He imposes such great alms and abstinence on the monks that he depletes their food supply. The monks revolt, and Germanus retreats to a cell and prays. As he is praying, a matron named Anna sends the monastery two loads of bread.

4. One night, as the monk Amandus is entering the monastery’s hayloft, a coal falls out of his lamp and starts a fire. As the monks attempt to extinguish the fire to no avail, Germanus climbs on top of the building with a kettle of water and pours out a small amount in the shape of a cross. The fire is miraculously extinguished.

5. A Frank named Chariulf seizes a portion of church property. Germanus tells him to give it back, but he refuses. Germanus turns to prayer, and suddenly a wild bear kills three of Chariulf’s horses. He still refuses to return the property, and on the next night the bear kills six beasts of burden. Chariulf refuses again, and on the third night nine of his animals are killed. Chariulf finally returns the property.

6. Bishop Agricola of Chalon-sur-Saône sends a letter to Germanus asking him to intercede for his chamber servant (cubicularius) who is dying of a fever. Germanus goes to the tomb of Symphorianus, prostrates himself on the ground, and prays. The servant recovers that very hour.

7. The matron Anna [probably the same Anna of Chapter 3] comes home and tells her husband Aebro that she saw Germanus horned like Moses and shining with a bright light. Aebro is frightened by this and subsequently does not disrespect the saint by sitting while in his presence.

8. Germanus goes to Chalon to meet with King Theudebert over property of the church of Autun. As he is entering the king’s palace, he is mindful of Symphorianus (memor sancti Synphoriani), and predicts that the king will have conceded before Germanus has even been able to make his demand. This prophecy is fulfilled a short time later when Theodebert dies on his way to Reims [in 547/548].

9. While holding vigils at the tomb of saint Symphorianus, accompanied by the monk Silvester, a throng of demonic voices erupts from the altar. Germanus orders Silvester to sing psalms while he ascends to the altar. The demons afflict Silvester and throw him to the floor before departing.

10. Caesarius, a slave of one Sabaricus, who had suffered at the latter's hands, goes to Germanus asking him to liberate him from his master. Sabaricus demands the exorbitant price of eighty solidi for the freedom of Caesarius, his wife and only son, but Germanus pays up nonetheless. Later, Sabaricus is suddenly afflicted and brought in chains to Germanus, who exorcises him. Sabaricus gives back the price for Caesarius plus twenty gold pieces, 'and from the hundred solidi a cross was made at the tomb of the blessed Symphorianus and hung from it, which is a testimony to the present day' (et de centum solidis crux ad sepulchrum beati Synphoriani ab ipso suspensa est, quae usque in hodiernum diem res est in testimonium). Sabaricus' sons and daughters later enter monasteries and become abbots and abbesses.

11. Destasia, the wife of Vulfarus, a vir inlustris of the territory of Alise-Sainte-Reine (in pago Alisiense), is lying mute and dying. Germanus sends a priest with liquid eulogiae [presumably blessed wine] which are introduced into her mouth and she revives. Those around her praise Germanus, and she gives him an annual tribute in gratitude.

12. In a dream, Germanus sees an old man bringing him the keys to the city gate of Paris. Germanus asks him what he is doing, and he says he is making them safe. Soon after this the bishop of Paris dies, and King Childebert elects Germanus as his successor [in 552/556]. Germanus proceeds to carry himself as a monk even after becoming bishop, fasting, holding vigils and bearing extreme cold. He gives generous alms from the church’s possessions and from the gifts of kings and the people.

13. Childebert sends Germanus six thousand solidi to be spent on the poor. Germanus spends three thousand and returns to the palace, saying there were not enough poor people to spend the whole amount. The king insists that he give away the rest and adds golden dishes and silver vessels to the amount. Each tries to outshine the other in generosity to the poor.

14. A slave of the fisc at Corbeil-Essones (in Exona vicus) named Gildomer works on a Sunday, and his fingers become paralysed. He finds Germanus in an oratory, and the saint heals his hands by anointing them with oil. Subsequently Germanus makes him a cleric.

15. A woman of Paris named Favonia suffers with a locked-open jaw for nine days. Germanus heals her by anointing her with holy oil in an oratory.

16. A girl of Melun (Mediglonensis) from the household of Medard spins thread on a Sunday, and her hand becomes paralysed. Germanus heals it by anointing it with oil.

17. A demon-possessed man named Bobolinus from Novimum [unidentified location] is led to Germanus in chains, and Germanus exorcises him through prayer.

18. A man from the household of Nantharicus at Épône (villa Spedotenus) is led to Germanus with a disjointed jaw. After healing him by making the sign of the cross on him, Germanus forbids him to drink wine or eat meat. The man soon disobeys and must be healed by Germanus again.

19. A blacksmith named Ligerius becomes violent after being possessed by a demon and is led to Germanus in chains. Germanus orders that he be detained at his residence, and after seven days the demon departs.

20. Waddo, a vir inlustris of the king’s court, suffers from fever and chills and is presented to Germanus for healing. When struck by fever again at the usual hour, he requests water but is denied. Waddo grows angry and hurls insults at Germanus, who then gives him warm water to drink. Waddo is soon healed.

21. Ulfus, a minister of queen Chrodosinth, is wasting away with a grave illness, and he goes to Germanus seeking healing. Germanus leads him to the baptistery and prays for him, but his condition grows worse. He demands water but is denied it. Angry, Ulfus throws his belt at Germanus’ feet and threatens him with retribution from the king or from his relatives if he dies. He rolls around on the baptistery floor, falls asleep and wakes up healed. Asked by Germanus why he had threatened him, Ulfus claims he does not remember his words.

22. King Childebert gives Germanus a horse, forbidding him to give it away; but the saint proceeds to give it to a captive, preferring to heed the words of a man in need than those of a king, and telling him to sell it to a merchant for fifteen solidi, in order to buy his freedom. The merchant, however, disregards the price the saint has asked for, pays only twelve solidi, and takes the horse. The horse dies that night.

23. Germanus goes to the palace to meet King Chlothar but is left waiting outside when his arrival is not announced; he then returns home. That night he spends in vigils in an oratory; the king is struck by a severe fever. At dawn Germanus' aid is sought. All realise that the king's illness is the result of the ill treatment of the saint. Germanus visits Chlothar, who confesses his fault, 'licks the saint's cloak and passes the bishop's clothes over the areas of pain' (adlambit sancti palliolum, vestem sacerdotis deducit per loca doloris), and is healed.

24. A man mangled by a rabid wolf is taken to Germanus, who heals him by smearing oil on his arm.

25. A female slave (ancilla) of a certain Waldulf of Maule (de vico Mantola), afflicted by blindness for one year and nine months, is told in a dream that she would be healed 'if she were to touch the fringe of the saint's garment' (fimbriam sancti si tangeret). Germanus arrives on a certain day but is unable to open her eyes, so he smears her eyelids with oil, prays, and blesses some bread and salt. That night he prays in an oratory. In the middle of the night the woman cries out, and blood is seen to flow from her eyes. in the morning she goes to Germanus, who washes the eyelids and manages to open one eye. The next night the woman's eyes bleed again. She goes immediately to the saint, and the other eye opens when she arrives.

26. A girl named Magnofled is prevented by a demon from setting foot in a church, and she is presented to Germanus at Sèvres (in villa Savara). When Germanus places his hand on her head, the demon confesses that it is unable to hide in the holy man’s presence. Germanus proceeds to make the sign of the cross over the girl, and the demon departs through her nostrils, with blood and in the form of a fly. Magnofled then takes monastic vows.

27. As Germanus is heading to the feast of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) at Tours, a barbarian woman (mulier barbara) asks him to heal her paralysed hand. He takes her into a cottage and heals the hand by rubbing it with his spittle. He then enters the basilica.

28. As Germanus is leaving the basilica, he heals another woman’s deformed hand with spittle and oil.

29. When Germanus is passing through the Morvan (per Murvinno) on his way to the monastery of saint Symphorianus at Autun, demons cry out that they cannot hide from him. Germanus raises his right hand, and the demons flee the people’s bodies.

30. On his return from Autun, Germanus passes by Avallon, where he finds a multitude of prisoners being held in prison. Dining with the count (comes), Nicasius, he asks that some mercy be shown them, but the count obstinately refuses. Germanus leaves the table, stands atop the underground prison and prays for a long time. He then speaks encouraging words to the prisoners and departs. 'Soon afterwards the links of the prisoners’ chains are shattered, the prison doors are laid open, and daylight enters the prison' (mox catenarum bacae franguntur victae, ianuae reserantur, dies in carcerem reducitur), and the prisoners are freed. They come to Germanus in Paris, who obtains from the king remission of what the guilty owe the public purse.

31. The above-mentioned Nicasius, sick and in distress, falls prostrate before Germanus, who heals him in body and mind. Nicasius gives Germanus his 'belt and sword' (balteum quo cingebatur et spatam), later paying a price to have them returned.

32. As Germanus is passing through the Morvan on his way to saint Symphorianus [at Autun], the local inhabitants ask him to go to a widow named Panitia at Cervon (vicus Cervedo), whose field is being laid waste by two bears. Arriving there, he makes a sign over the field as bystanders mock him. The bears immediately attack one another; one is killed, and the other is impaled on a fence as it leaves. Panitia offers Germanus the bears’ pelts in gratitude, but he refuses, and those who mocked him are sorry.

33. A woman named Beretrudis, the wife of Musointhus, is unable to go with the people to the litanies due to blindness. Hearing the chorus of psalms from a distance, she asks Germanus for healing. Three nights later she sees a man standing near her bed making a sign over her eyes. Beretrudis awakens and tells her husband what happened. Then, blood drips from her eyes, her sight is returned, and she goes to mass with the people.

34. The young daughter of Pientus, a vir inlustris of Tours, is dying, and her mother sends a messenger to ask Germanus for help. Germanus arrives and prays for the girl, and within an hour she is healed. She asks for something to drink and is given a cup and bread blessed by Germanus. Afterwards she ended her life in Radegund’s convent.

35. A certain cleric 'in the monastery of the blessed Silvester in Tonnerre' (monasterio beati Silvestri in Ternoderinsem) repairs his shoes on a Sunday and is struck with lameness in his hands and feet. Admonished in a dream, he goes to Germanus and confesses his sin. Germanus then tells him to warn the people against working on Sundays. Five days later Germanus heals him with oil.

36. In Rozoy-en-Brie (Roteiaco villa), a possession of the church of Paris, seven possessed men are presented to Germanus and exorcised. One demon refuses to leave his host and proceeds to spread a rumour of Germanus’ death among the people of Paris. The man is later exorcised.

37. In the same place, a paralysed man is brought on a carriage to Germanus, who pours holy oil over him. After Germanus departs, the man recovers and goes to him to offer thanks.

38. A small boy named Emmegisil from Bussy (vicus Bucciacus), paralysed in hand, foot and tongue, is brought to Germanus in his cell in Paris. Germanus heals him, anointing him with holy oil continuously for three days.

39. Germanus heals the paralysed hand of a man from the same place with his saliva.

40. When Germanus comes to Vicus Novus [location uncertain] visiting his flock on his way from Nogent, an old woman who has been blind for eight years approaches him. Germanus makes the sign of the cross over her eyes and commands her to follow him on his journey. She does so and comes to him on a later day with blood trickling down from her eyes. Germanus takes her into a bedchamber in an inn, washes her eyes with water and cures her blindness. Fortunatus notes: 'These things happened in my presence in that chamber' (Sed haec in cubiculo praesente me gesta sunt).

41. As Germanus is approaching a possession of the church called Inaethe [location unknown] a man detains him, saying everyone but him in his village is suffering from a wasting illness. Germanus sends him away with consecrated bread (eulogiae), and everyone who eats it is healed.

42. As Germanus is going to the church of the Holy Cross in Paris, a woman brings him her infant son, on the verge of death, and she begs him for healing. Germanus makes the sign of the cross over the boy and revives him. The baby seeks his mother's milk, and the people standing around rejoice.

43. When Germanus is at Brie-Comte-Robert (in Bradeia vico) in the territory of Paris, after mass, a paralysed woman is carried in on a chair. He anoints her with holy oil and heals her. The woman in gratitude later makes a tunic for the saint.

44. The mayor of the royal palace (maior domus regiae) Audegisel goes to Germanus asking for healing of a quartan fever. Germanus instructs him to sit with a deacon while he contemplates how to heal him. Having prayed, Germanus bundles him up in his own coverlet, puts him to bed, and he is soon healed. Even in the saint's absence, his clothing can heal.

45. As Germanus is travelling to Poitiers, to visit [the shrine of] the blessed confessor *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183), a mute, limping and infirm woman from Secorby (de Sene Corbiaco villa) named Baudofeifa is brought to him, aided by two men. Germanus makes the sign of the cross over her, and she quickly begins to recover. Three days later she finds the saint in Poitiers and gives thanks.

46. As Germanus is passing through the Vendôme, he stops and spends a night in Rhodon (in Rausidonem). The straw that he slept on is then used for healing.

47. When Germanus comes to Nantes, a woman named Tecla meets him and asks him to come to her merchant husband, Damianus, who is afflicted with gout. Because the way to him is difficult, Germanus sends a deacon with chrism. On another day Germanus manages to visit Damianus and heals him by anointing him with holy oil. Seeing this healing, Tecla and Damianus present their blind, deaf and mute daughter, Maria, to the saint. Germanus prays and then heals her by anointing her with holy oil. The merchants of Nantes, seeing these miracles, give generous alms to Germanus for the relief of the poor.

48. Fortunatus recounts the testimony of the vir inlustris Leudegisel, that when those in his household fell ill with chills and fevers, 'soaking the letters which Germanus had subscribed with his own sacred hand, by this medicine many were restored to health' (lavans illas litteras, quas in subscriptionem manus sancta depinxerat, conplures suos hac medella saluti restituit).

49. When passing through the Beauce (per Belsa), a certain Cusinus treats an injury to his horse on a Sunday. When he removes his hand from the wound, it becomes swollen and begins to rot. He finds Germanus as he is travelling through Belsa and asks him to come to his house. Germanus washes his arm with water, anoints it with holy oil and binds it with leaves. Cusinus is healed, and he gives thanks to Germanus.

50. A slave of the church named Libanius puts up a fence on a Sunday, and his hands become paralysed. He rushes to Germanus, who pours holy oil over him, prays and heals him.

51. Andulf, a cleric of the church of Paris, shakes nuts from a tree at Easter and is struck blind. He remains blind for a year until Germanus anoints him with oil and heals him.

52. When Germanus is presented to the king [unnamed, but probably Guntram] at Rozoy-en-Brie (villa Roteiaco), a demon-possessed cleric is presented to him. Germanus exorcises him, and the demon flees from his head in the form of a small bird. Germanus stomps on the bird, causing it to pour out blood.

53. As Germanus is on his way to Ville-Taillac (ad villa Tasiliaco), an old blind woman is presented to him for healing. Germanus prays and anoints her with oil, and she regains her sight.

54. Daningus, son of Ardulf, suffers from dropsy and, lacking hope in physicians, goes to Germanus for healing. Germanus takes off Daningus’ clothes and anoints him with oil, which miraculously dries up the dropsical fluid and cures him.

55. As Germanus is going to the [Parisian] basilica of saints Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), to hold vigils there, a blind man asks him for healing. Germanus instructs him to lie down by the saints’ relics at the altar overnight. At dawn Germanus makes the sign of the cross over his eyes and heals him.

56. A woman of Exmes (de Uxominse) had sought healing from Germanus but received nothing. A Breton priest (Britanum presbyterum) carrying a blessing and relics (benedictionem ... et reliquias) of Germanus to heal a ruler of his homeland (rector patriae suae) lodges in the woman’s villa, and her husband encourages her to go to the relics of Germanus (ad reliquias domni Germani) for healing. She responds contemptuously and is immediately struck with paralysis. Her husband carries her to the relics, where she repents and is healed.

57. In Chinon (Carnonam castellum), abbot Flameris, carrying a letter from Germanus, visits one of his monks, who has been in bed with a fever for two years. The monk asks who had written the letter, and Flameris tells him it was Germanus. The monk, 'wiping off the letters of [Germanus'] subscription with his tongue' (de subscriptione eius lingua detergens litteram), is cured.

58. A certain man of Chênehutte (villa Cariaco) works on a Sunday and his hand becomes paralysed. He finds Germanus as he is passing through the area, and the saint instructs him to follow him to Cariac (in villa Cariaco). Once there, Germanus anoints his hand with oil and heals it.

59. Germanus visits the home of the vir inlustris Nunnichus. Nunnichus’ wife takes a thread from Germanus’ cloak, hides it in an oratory and holds vigils there in honour of the saint asking for healing. She is healed by morning.

60. Attila, a vir inlustris and domesticus of the royal court, falls in the bath and injures his arm, which becomes badly infected. When a doctor bleeds him, he loses almost all his blood. Germanus is told that he is on the verge of death and visits him. He opens Attila’s mouth with the handle of a small knife, prays and puts some cold water in his mouth three times. He then keeps watch by the bed, and within an hour Attila regains consciousness and asks who is there with him. Those present answer that Germanus is there, and Attila asks the saint to hold out his hand to him. Attila gives him a purse full of money and a weighty sword-belt (balteum), to be used for the poor, in gratitude for his healing.

61. On his way to Autun, at Rozoy (Rotagiaco), Germanus hears of certain men being held in a prison and asks the tribune to set them free, but he does not assent. Germanus then goes to the prison and prostrates himself in prayer. During the night the prisoners’ chains and the prison doors collapse. The prisoners escape and go to Germanus to give thanks.

62. Germanus comes to Bourges for the ordination of Bishop Felix, where a certain Jew, Sigeric, had recently been converted to Christianity. His wife, Mammona, however, refuses to convert, despite receiving multiple visits from messengers sent by Germanus. Germanus then goes to her home himself and holds vigils, but she refuses to speak to him. At Terce, Germanus places his hand on Mammona’s forehead, and a demon exits her body through her nostrils in the form of smoke and fire. She then asks to be made a Christian and converts many other Jews through her example.

63. Germanus is in Autun for the ordination of bishop Syagrius. In attendance is a vir inlustris named Florentinus, who had a wart on his eye. As the people are praising the new bishop, a certain ignorant man strikes Florentinus in the eye, causing it to fall out of its socket and dangle over his cheek. Florentinus rushes to Germanus, who puts the eye back in the socket and instructs him to hold vigils at the tomb of Symphorianus. When he is finished, the eye is healed and even the pre-existing wart has disappeared. Later Florentinus is made bishop of Mâcon.

64. On his way from the basilica of Martin to Civray-sur-Cher (ad villa Severiaco), Germanus happens upon a young man, Amantius, being led in chains by some Jews. Asked why he is chained, Amantius answers that he refused to be put under Jewish laws. Germanus makes the sign of the cross and the lock of the chains opens.

65. Germanus in Paris goes to pray in the basilica of saints Gervasius and Protasius, but the keys to the locked doors cannot be found. He then makes the sign of the cross over the doors and unlocks them. Fortunatus writes: 'These wonderful things happened in my presence' (Haec quoque veneranda praesente me gesta sunt).

66. 'No material could stand against the blessed man, since wood, stone and iron all dissolved before him' (beato viro nullum obstitit metallum, cum ligna, saxa, ferramenta ante ipsum soluta sunt). Germanus offers a prayer at the door of a prison in Paris. The following night, a light appears in the prison and instructs the prisoners where to dig to find an opening. The prisoners dig out using a cow’s rib and run to Germanus. The tribune of the city blames the guards for the escape and places them in the prison. Germanus visits the tribune, and as they are sharing a meal the guards who had been imprisoned escape and come to the table in chains. Incredulous, the tribune releases the prisoners and repents.

67. As Germanus is departing from Orléans, he hears the voices of prisoners in an underground cell. He stands atop the cell and prostrates himself in prayer. The following night, the prison is laid open and the prisoners flee to the basilica of *Anianus (bishop of Orléans, ob. 454, S01206).

68. A man of Paris goes to Germanus for healing for an injured and swollen eye. Germanus smears the eye with his saliva and cures it.

69. Maoverta, a woman of Paris goes to Germanus for healing for a painful pustule on her arm. Germanus smears her arm with saliva and cures it.

70. Fortunatus extols the great number of healing miracles and exorcisms Germanus performed, which are too many to be described. He describes the way demons appeared to him, confessed their crimes and were scattered by him.
71. Continuing the theme of the previous chapter, Fortunatus describes how Germanus exposed demons’ tricks and caused them to confess as though being tortured.

72. Fortunatus extols Germanus’ other virtues: his almsgiving, preaching of mercy and redeeming of captives, to which 'the Spaniard, the Irishman, the Breton/Briton, the Basque, the Saxon and the Burgundian' (Hispanus, Scottus, Britto, Wasco, Saxo, Burgundio) all bear testimony.

73. Fortunatus praises Germanus’ preaching and its edifying effects on the people.

74. Even under snow or a storm, Germanus went round bare-headed, and at table he always engaged in divine discourse.

75. Fortunatus describes Germanus’ diligence in holding vigils and reciting psalms. Before anyone else was awake, he might inwardly recite fifty psalms in bed, and during the night he might go to the oratory barefoot, silently lest anyone know what he was doing. He inflicted such torment on his body that 'he became a peaceful martyr' (in pace factus martyr). On occasion he would enter the church at the third hour of the night and not leave until he had completed the entire psalter. Even when resting, he would resolve quarrels and attend to the needs of the poor.

76. Fortunatus closes by praising more of Germanus’ virtues and recounting the circumstances of his death. Germanus was merciful and kind, and he tended personally to the people’s complaints and sorrows; he was 'the father and pastor of the people' (pater et pastor populi). He predicted the day of his death a few days beforehand by instructing his notary to write 'May 28' (Quinto Kalendas Iunias) over his bed. Aged almost eighty, he died and joined the martyrs and apostles.


Text: Krusch and Levison 1920.
Summary: Kent Navalesi (identification of modern French locations from Pietri and Heijmans 2013, 884-894).

Chant and religious singing

Saint’s feast

Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave

Composing and translating saint-related texts

Miracle during lifetime
Miracle at martyrdom and death
Punishing miracle
Miracles causing conversion
Miracle with animals and plants
Power over objects
Healing diseases and disabilities
Power over life and death
Freeing prisoners, exiles, captives, slaves
Miraculous protection - of people and their property
Miraculous protection - of church and church property
Exorcism

Handwriting of a saint
Contact relic - saint’s possession and clothes
Unspecified relic
Bodily relic - nails, hair and bodily products
Transfer/presence of relics from distant countries
Contact relic - other object closely associated with saint

Monarchs and their family
Slaves/ servants
Family
Women
Jews and Samaritans
Relatives of the saint
Aristocrats
Officials
Merchants and artisans
Slaves/ servants
Prisoners
The socially marginal (beggars, prostitutes, thieves)
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Animals

Crosses
Precious material objects

Source

Discussion

Bibliography