ON ST. ELAPHIUS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR,
AT CHÂLONS IN CHAMPAGNE IN GAUL.
In the year 580.
The Saint's age, cult, and a summary of his deeds.
Elaphius, bishop and confessor, at Châlons in Champagne in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 2442
J. B. S.
Of the city of Châlons (Châlons-sur-Marne) there was treatment in this Work most recently The Saint's age is established where St. Memmius was treated, on the V of August, so that nothing more can seem to be desired for a knowledge of that city. Further, the seventeenth in order of the bishops of that city is read to have been the Saint of whom we treat on this day, Elaphius by name, of Limoges by birth, who is said to have been promoted to that chair, if not by the command, at least by the persuasion, of King Sigebert, in the year 578, and to have held it until the year 587 — others say until 600. So the writers commonly, with Rapin in his History of the Bishops of Châlons. But if we believe Longueval, in the History of the Gallican Church, volume 3, page 127, he died in Spain in the year 580, and thus his episcopate began much earlier, certainly before the year 578, since he himself with his brother St. Leudomir, then a deacon, enriched that church with many of his paternal manors and estates, the donation of which was made on the IX day of June in the year 565, the fourth of Sigebert.
[2] Rapin cites the instrument of the said donation, which he says is found in the Legendary of the monastery of All Saints, against Rapin and others: but he asserts that he deliberately passes it over — perhaps lest his chronological errors should be manifest to the eye. We judge that we must adhere to the reckonings of the aforesaid Longueval, and therefore fix his holy death at the said year 580, so that he may be said to have sat about sixteen years, since that donation was made at the very beginning of his episcopate, with the assent and subscription also of his own brother St. Leudomir, afterwards his successor, and with Giles, archbishop of Rheims, as witness. Of the rest of his deeds nothing much survives beyond a brief summary presently to be subjoined.
[3] We set down first only this, which had to be established in the first place, nor is his cult to be doubted. namely that his ancient and lawful cult is established, although in our ancient Martyrologies — at which indeed I wonder — he is not noted: certainly Rapin sufficiently testifies that he has been held for a Saint by the people of Châlons from all memory, and others everywhere agree with him. His announcement is extant in Molanus's Usuard, in these words: On the same day, of St. Elaphius, bishop of Châlons and confessor. In almost the same phrase Galesinius, and likewise Ferrarius, record him from Demochares. But Saussay adorns him with a longer eulogy. Let there be added also the testimony of Castellanus, altogether to be admitted in this matter. Gregory of Tours also makes mention of him, book 5, chapter 41: After these things Elaphius, bishop of Châlons, being sent on an embassy into Spain on the affairs of queen Brunehild, was seized by a violent fever and breathed out his spirit, and thence, being carried dead to his own city, he was buried. One may consult the annotation of the editor Ruinart on this passage, where the Saint's cult is placed beyond all controversy.
[4] Now, as regards the Acts of our holy Elaphius, the Historian of Châlons rightly complains, page 83, that time, which consumes and devours all things, The Acts do not survive, has snatched from us those monuments from which, to our edification, we might have learned all the holier deeds of this most illustrious Bishop. He nevertheless cites some series of a Life or other; some composition, I suppose, but one itself unknown to us, so that nothing else has reached us beyond some manuscript summary, from which the Gallican martyrologist seems to have formed his eulogy, as will readily appear if our edition be compared with his text. Take therefore the aforesaid summary, transmitted to our predecessors I know not whence or by whom, without any further notice. It runs thus:
[5] Besides what is here given in few words. Elaphius, born at the city of Limoges of an illustrious family, his father being Leo, had a brother Leudomir, who himself also afterwards most holily governed the people of Châlons. He, destined by his parents from boyhood for the divine services, surpassed the expectation of all by the greatness of his natural gifts. For he eagerly learned sacred letters, was zealous for piety, and was so far from all levity that nothing boyish appeared in his speech and manners. When therefore the church of Châlons was bereft of a pastor, Sigebert, son of Chlothar and grandson of the great Clovis, had Elaphius summoned from Limoges and raised to that see. Having at last with difficulty undertaken the episcopal office, Elaphius turned himself wholly to the Lord; giving abundant alms, persisting in prayers, omitting nothing that pertained to the office of a good pastor. Led by love and longing for so great a brother, Leudomir, leaving his native land, went to Châlons. And their brotherly concord profited the church of Châlons much, to which they also gave their hereditary estates near the city of Limoges. But Elaphius, being frequently sent as envoy to King Sigebert for the needs of the churches, exhorted him to believe that justice was the pillar and support of his kingdom. Nor indeed did he waste his labor: for the king, having heard him, did many things. It happened at last that that prince, being moved with pious devotion toward the holy martyr Eulalia, who had suffered at the town of Mérida in Spain, desired something of her venerable relics. And so, an embassy being appointed most amply with gifts to Leovigild, who then held Spain, he set Elaphius over it: who with the good leave of the Spanish king and of the clergy of Mérida should bring back the sacred pledges. Elaphius, though worn with age, undertakes the long journey, discharges the embassy vigorously and according to his purpose. But while he was returning, seized by a violent fever, he passed to the Lord. And his body was brought back to Châlons, where now it rests in the basilica of the Prince of the Apostles.