The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Martyrdom of Sigismund, Holy King and Martyr, and his Companions, On the Kalends of May (Passio sancti Sigismundi regis et martyris et sociorum eius, quod est Kl. Mai) (BHL 7717, CPL 2140)

Summary

(1) The author narrates the early history of the Burgundians, from their origins in Scandavia, to their entry into Gaul under King Gundoic, (2) and the rule of his successors, Kings Gundobad and Godegisel. (3) How Gundobad captured Godegisel with his wife and children, had them burned, and took the whole kingdom for himself. (4) On Gundobad's two sons, Sigismund and Godemar. How in his youth Sigismund would visit in person the churches, monasteries, and 'thresholds of the saints, attending incessantly to vigils, fasts and prayers, day and night' (limina sanctorum ipsum accendit, ut die noctuque uigiliis, ieiuniis, orationibus incessanter assisteret). How, after the death of Gundobad, Sigismund was elected as king.

(5) On Sigismund's continued resolve as king to 'to devote himself to the thresholds of the martyrs, so that he might receive the rewards of the martyrs' (se ipsum circa martirum limina inpendere conatus est, ut mercedem martirum accipere mereretur). (6) How, having visited many places of the saints (dum multa loca sanctorum perlustraret), he came to 'the place called Agaunum, where the holy *Maurice and his fellow soldiers (the Theban Legion, S00339) had earned the palm of martyrdom for love of our Lord Jesus Christ' (locum qui Agaunum uocatur, ubi sanctus Mauritius cum suis conmilitionibus pro amore domini nostri Iesu Christi martirii palmam accipere meruit), and with 'divine inspiration... sent by an angel' (nutu Dei... angelo nunciate), he resolved 'to institute a chorus of psalm-singers, on the model of the heavenly army' (ad instar caelestis militiae psallendi choros instituere). How, over this decision, 'he consulted the holy and apostolic bishops' (sanctos atque apostlicos uiros episcopos consuluit), who unanimously gave their consent, 'although the plan was novel' (licet inusitatum opus).

(7) How, once 'this holy task had been fully instituted and consolidated'' (quod sanctum opus perfecte institutum et firmatum), Our Lord Jesus Christ gave Sigismund his 'reward' (remuneratio) by 'summoning' (prouocare) him to martyrdom, 'so that he might join the glory and feasts of paradise of the holy martyrs of Thebes, with whom he had joined himself through prayers to God' (ut sanctorum martyrum Thebeorum, quorum se in Dei laudibus sociauerat, paradisi gloria et dapibus sociaret).

(8) On the Frankish conquest of the cities of Gaul. How all the Burgundians abandoned Sigismund - who on the model of Elijah had retreated to Mount Versesallis (Versailleux?) to evade the enemy - and went over to the Franks, promising to betray him bound up to them (eis uinctum traderent). (9) How Sigismund, hearing of their plan, took the tonsure and the monastic habit (in habitum religionis), and underwent fasts and vigils in the 'aforesaid place' (supradicto posto), where a few Burgundians came to meet him, who 'feigning love for the tombs of the holy martyrs, promised to take him away from there secretly under their custody' (quasi causa amoris ad sepulchra sanctorum martyrum sub quadam custodia latenter perducere promiserunt): once they came to the doors of the monastery, they betrayed him like Judas, and handed him over in chains to the Franks. How the Franks, 'fearful of staining their hands with innocent blood' (pertimescentes ne manus suas ad sanguinem innoxium effundendum cruentarent), sent for the Burgundians to undertake the execution: Sigismund, with his wife and sons Gisclad and Gundobad, were led to the place called La Beauce, beheaded, and thrown down an ancient well.

(10) How for three years the holy bodies lay safely concealed (inlesa celauerunt) beneath the muddy water of the well: 'through all this time a light could be seen at night at that place, divinely lit by these saints' (in quo loco nocturnis temporibus a sanctis uiris diuinitus lampadam accensam, per totum illum spatium). How, after the third year, Abbot Venerandus of Agaune was 'ordered by an angel in a vision, to join those holy bodies with those of the tombs of the holy legion in that place, just as their souls are joined in heaven' (per angelum in uisu admonitus est, ut sacra corpora, sicut animae eorum in caelestibus sanctae legioni erant coniunctae, ita est in eo loco sepulturae sociarentur). How Abbot Venerandus then sent his emissaries to Ansemund the Burgundian (duke) - who had stayed loyal to Sigismund right up to the day of his martyrdom - who in turn directed the request to King Theudebert of the Franks: 'the most pious prince kindly granted this petition' (quam petitionem piisimus princeps clementer indulsit).

(11) On the removal of the bodies from the well, and their translation, with choirs singing psalms, to the monastery of Agaune, where they were buried in the church dedicated to *John (the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042). On the miracles which take place at the tomb: those suffering from quartan fever (quisquis quartanum typum inuasus) are healed, and so also those suffering from other illnesses (etiam et reliquae infirmitates), through the intercession of the holy martyrs.


Text: Krusch 1888.
Summary: B. Savill.

Chant and religious singing

Saint’s feast

Cult building - unspecified
Cult building - monastic
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Holy spring/well/river

Visiting graves and shrines
Vigils
Fast
Seeking asylum at church/shrine
Burial ad sanctos
Renovation and embellishment of cult buildings
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Ceremonies at burial of a saint

Miracle after death
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Healing diseases and disabilities
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation

Bodily relic - entire body
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics
Transfer/presence of relics from distant countries

Women
Family
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Foreigners (including Barbarians)
Relatives of the saint
Monarchs and their family
Aristocrats
Torturers/Executioners
Angels

Source

Discussion

Bibliography