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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Name

Saturninus, bishop and martyr of Toulouse

Saint ID

S00289

Number in BH

BHL 7495-7508

Reported Death Not Before

250

Reported Death Not After

251

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Bishops , Missionaries
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00367Gregory of Tours writes the Glory of the Martyrs (Liber in Gloria Martyrum), in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594. Overview entry.
E00503Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (30), tells of relics of *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288) and *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), which shortly after 524 were saved from fire in a town in Burgundy and translated to Neuvy-le-Roi (near Tours, north-west Gaul); they were then transferred to a new church, and replaced in the old one by a relic of *Vincent (deacon and martyr of Zaragoza and Valencia, S00290). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00545Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (47), tells of the martyrdom of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), and of a translation of relics of the martyr from Toulouse (south-west Gaul) to an unnamed place; on the way the relics were sheltered for a night in a poor man's house near Brioude (central Gaul); warned in a vision that the place was now too sacred to live in, and then suffering misfortune, the man eventually demolished his house and built a wooden oratory on the spot. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00546Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (47), tells of a monastic oratory at Pauliac (south-west Gaul) dedicated to *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), where relics of the saint were located; an attempt in 511/561 to transform the oratory into a secular building was miraculously punished. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00605Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (65), tells how, in the 550s, five men were miraculously punished for stealing from an oratory in Yssac-la-Tourette in the territory of Clermont (central Gaul), where relics of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289) were housed. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E01530Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (1.30), describes how seven bishops were sent to seven cities in Gaul in the reign of Decius (249-251) and became martyrs or confessors: *Saturninus of Toulouse (S00289), *Dionysius/Denis of Paris (S00349), *Trophimus of Arles (S00617), *Gatianus of Tours (S01175), *Paulus of Narbonne (S00503), *Stremonius of Clermont (S01255), and *Martialis of Limoges (S01168). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
E01614A tract on the Trinity, written in Latin, probably in 6th c. Gaul, claims that cities where the churches were founded by the Apostles have never fallen under the control of heretics. It lists Jerusalem; Ephesus, founded by *John (the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042); Alexandria, founded by *Mark (the Evangelist, S00293); and Smyrna, where the first bishop was Polycarp/Polykarpos (S00004). It then lists four founders of sees in Gaul: *Trophimus (bishop and confessor of Arles, S00617), *Paulus (bishop and confessor of Narbonne, S00503), *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), and *Daphnus (bishop of Vaison, S00851), and claims them as disciples of the Apostles. The tract has been attributed to Caesarius of Arles, but the attribution is questionable.
E01959The Latin second Life of *Romanus, Priest of Blaye (S01129) presents its protagonist as a monk, presbyter and miracle-worker from Africa, who, prompted by God, travels to Blaye, near Bordeaux, first sailing to Narbonne and then travelling by way of Toulouse, where he has a vision of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289); at Blaye, in collaboration with *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), he destroys a pagan idol and converts the local population; on his death, he is buried by Martin and miracles occur at his grave; he is particularly protective of sailors. Written probably in the region of Bordeaux (south-west Gaul), possibly in the 6th c..
E02186Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (6.12), tells how in 581 the wife of Duke Ragnovald sought sanctuary in the church of *Caprasius (martyr of Agen, S01180) in Agen, and, when forced out of there, in the church of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289) in Toulouse (both south-west Gaul). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 581/594.
E02388Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.29), tells how a possessed woman saw saints gathering for the death in 591 of *Aredius (monastic founder in the Limousin, ob. 591, S00302) in his monastery in the territory of Limoges (western Gaul): *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), *Privatus (bishop and martyr of Javols, S01184), *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), *Martialis (first bishop of Limoges, S01168), *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289) and *Dionysius/Denis (bishop and martyr of Paris, S00349). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.
E02448Gregory of Tours writes the Glory of the Confessors, in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588. Overview entry.
E02564Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (20), tells how he set up an oratory [in the bishop's residence], and deposited there relics of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), *Illidius (bishop of Clermont, ob. 384/385, S00022), and *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035); when the relics were transferred to the oratory, a terrifying flash of light filled the building, testifying to the power of the saints; AD 573/574. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588.
E05003The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 30 October.
E05035The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 29 November.
E05231Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Julian (30), describes how the possessed complained at the presence of many saints attending the feast of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035) in Brioude (central Gaul): *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), *Privatus (bishop and martyr of Javols, S01184), *Ferreolus (soldier and martyr of Vienne, S01893), *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322) and *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289). Written in Latin in Clermont and Tours (central and north-west Gaul), 573/587.
E05555Venantius Fortunatus writes eleven books of Poems in Latin, mainly in western and north-western Gaul, 565/600; many of them with reference to saints. Overview entry.
E05636Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem (2.7) On lord *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), describes the gathering up of his relics after his martyrdom in Toulouse (south-west Gaul), and miracles that occur at his tomb. Written in Latin in Gaul, 565/576.
E05637Venantius Fortunatus writes a poem (2.8) to commemorate the construction of a church in Toulouse (south-west Gaul) of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), at the site of his martyrdom, by Launebod, duke of Toulouse, with his wife Beretrude, in 565/576. Written in Latin in Gaul, 565/576.
E05912The will of Desiderius, bishop of Auxerre (ob. 614/627), includes donations to churches and monasteries in and around Auxerre, Sens, Cahors, and Toulouse (in northern and south-west Gaul), dedicated to 16 named saints or pairs of saints. Written in Latin at Auxerre (central Gaul), 605/627.
E05965The will of Desiderius, bishop of Cahors (ob. c. 655), summarised in the Latin Life of Desiderius (E08220), leaves property to churches or monasteries in and around Cahors (south-west Gaul), dedicated to fourteen named saints or pairs of saints. Summary written in Cahors, c. 670/700.
E06280The Latin Life of *Vivianus/Bibianus (bishop of Saintes, mid-5th c., S01282) portrays Vivianus as an ideal bishop, who protected his town from Gothic oppression and Saxon pirates; in Toulouse he visited the shrine of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289), and in Saintes installed relics sent from Rome; relics of Vivianus are received with joy in a city of the East. Written in Gaul, probably in the 6th c.
E06490The Latin first Life of *Romanus, Priest of Blaye (S01129) presents its protagonist as a monk, presbyter and miracle-worker from Provence, who, prompted by God, travels to Blaye, near Bordeaux, by way of Narbonne and Toulouse, where he has a vision of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289); at Blaye, in collaboration with *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), he destroys a pagan temple and converts the local population; on his death, he is buried by Martin and miracles occur at his grave. Written possibly in the 5th c., probably in the region of Bordeaux (south-west Gaul).
E06849Hymn in honour of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289) composed in Latin in Gaul possibly in the 5th century.
E07613The Latin Deeds of *Austremonius (martyr and first bishop of Clermont, S01255) by Praeiectus of Clermont tells how the saint was sent from Rome with other apostles to Gaul by Pope Clement; of his foundation of the church of Clermont and monastery of Issoire; of his miracles; and of his martyrdom by Jews (together with an unnamed baptised Jewish boy). Written at Issoire or Clermont (both central Gaul), c. 650/75.
E08222The Gothic Missal compiles liturgical texts for the celebration of saints' feasts throughout the year. Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710. Overview entry.
E08230The Gothic Missal includes prayers for the celebration of mass on the feast day of *Saturninus (bishop and martyr of Toulouse, S00289). Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710.
E0831535 relic labels at Sens (northern Gaul), datable by their script to the 7th or 8th c., for relics of a great diversity of saints. Written in Latin, perhaps at Sens, or at an earlier stage in their transmission.