ON SAINT VALERIANUS
MARTYR AT FORLÌ IN ITALY.
CENTURY V
PrefaceValerianus, Martyr at Forlì in Italy (S.)
G. H.
[1] Forum-Livii, a city of Italy ancient and Episcopal, on the right of the Montone river on the Flaminian way, between Faenza and Cesena, to its Tutelary Patrons reckons S. Mercurialis its Bishop and S. Valerianus the Martyr, [An encomium written about the year 1580] whose praises about the year MDLXXX in a luminous oration described a certain monk not unlearned, from the Abbey of S. Mercurialis; who when of S. Valerianus to treat he begins, prefaces, about this Saint, two years before in the cathedral church copiously to have discoursed a man of Forlì transcribed from the collectanea of Gallonius in the Vallicellan Library at Rome, not we judged to be inserted into our work on XXX of April treating of S. Mercurialis, since we had a life written in the century, as to us it seemed, XI. Now the cut off from it part last about S. Valerianus, of the more ancient authors in default, to give we are compelled.
[2] Ferrarius in the General Catalogue seems these very things by himself at Rome read to indicate, which by the more ancient Acts in default is given. when with a more elegant style written Acts he calls them, before more ancient others which MS. he saw at Forlì. Each moreover he judged of correction to need, which we apply in the Annotations. The more ancient ones requiring us, an Italian a certain synopsis, by himself made, sent in the year MDCLXXIII the most Illustrious D. Eugenius Menghius, a Patrician and Counselor of the city, fortified with public faith and the seal through the Secretary of the same city Horatius Marcianelius; attesting with his own hand himself it to have extracted sincerely and with the highest truth from the book which is in the archive or secretariat of the most Illustrious Community, and from other writings most worthy of faith, which exist at Forlì in various places.
[3] We, as I said, the very of that book words we would have preferred to receive; not it seems nevertheless worth the trouble in those to be sought further to labor; since neither those can great have authority; and whatever of S. Valerianus written on tradition alone to rely seems, founded on the most ancient of the same Saint cult: of which a witness we have Ughelli in the Bishops of Forlì, where he says that Richelmus or Richelinus, Bishop of Forlì, in the year MCCLXVII, together with the of Ravenna Archbishop and other Bishops, the altar of S. Valerianus in the Cathedral consecrated. Paolo Bonoli book 2 of the History of Forlì (which for his humanity to us he sent) page 35 asserts Richelmus in the said year on the day XXVIII of May before the whole Clergy the monument sepulchral of S. Valerianus to have opened, An ancient Epitaph and with the very sacred bones to have found a leaden plate: in which some Epitaph in these verses was read. For the King's name, the neck cut, supernal, Here a Martyr I lie, Valerianus I. Romania in its illustrious me cherishes in caves, Livia with companions eighty tender.
[4] On the other of the said plate part these words were contained: This of Blessed Valerianus the Martyr is the body, who here present is held, who for Christ's name many in his body sustained passions, at length the head cut off the soul to God rendered. The following after this of the sacred bones showing day, the altar consecrated in the year 1267 that is XXIX of May, the said Richelmus the Bishop, the arm taken out, the chest of the Relics closed, and the altar consecrated: and these all were done the assisting Archbishop of Ravenna (he was Philip Fontana, who already before a league with the people of Forlì had made) and other nine Bishops suffragan, who to a Synod Provincial, then at Forlì held, had assembled, and various indulgences had granted, and these to be certain from a Bull and other instruments asserts Bonoli. But the sacred S. Valerianus's arm, enclosed is in a silver arm, with public money made, to three feet height, and is wont on the days of Rogations to be carried about. the arm apart preserved. The feast of S. Valerianus is celebrated by precept through the whole diocese: and the Cathedral Church to the most holy Cross's Finding and S. Valerianus the Martyr is dedicated. Nicolaus Brautius Bishop of Sarsina in the Poetic Martyrology with this distich him honors. The Leader of the city of Livium lives: scarcely warded off the enemies; Slain, on a horse carried, he compels to enter flight.
ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM.
From an Oration MS. about the year MDLXXX
Valerianus, Martyr at Forlì in Italy (S.)
[1] It remains, a that to the other we proceed, Saint Valerianus, to whom no less a holy in the Catholic faith renovation owes the people of Livium, than to that former one the of the sacred font in Christ regeneration. Of him, not without the highest both of me and of the other lovers-of-labor b grief, very well I recall many things in the Cathedral church our Cogitabundus (whom for honor's sake I name) two years before copiously to have discoursed, many things learnedly to have narrated; and, The Prologue of the author. as he was of a most keen genius force both by nature and art endowed, those of his praises to have collected, that nothing, either to abundance more amply could be devised, or to the arguments more subtly be found, or to the truth more articulately be investigated could. For which indeed thing's cause not
of attaining no hope is left, that man's in speaking footsteps in any way me to be able to follow I trusted. I will speak nevertheless in other things inferior, but at least in devotion and the mind's inclination equal; in which by no of men, who are, or who have been, me easily to be surpassed I affirm.
[2] The year therefore was turning of the salutiferous Incarnation the sixty-first above the four hundredth, when Augustus [c] Leo the Constantinopolitan Empire held substituted to Marcian (whom at Byzantium first from Greece d a Cæsar they had) when no from himself [e] progeny he saw, the hope of succession all, in Leo f the son of Ariadne and Zeno he had placed. But the Adolescent by unclean spirits was vexed, By Leo the Emperor summoned, the nephew possessed he frees: which the Cæsar's mind vehemently tortured, and a life he led on that account less pleasant. The renowned then of a certain adolescent g Armenian of religion and sanctity fame was spread over all of Asia and which under the rising sun are regions, with so constant of all the opinion, that him beyond the conditions of age to God most pleasing all proclaimed. He was B. Valerianus, whom on account of life's probity many signs and miracles through the mouths of men carried about. Sent therefore to him legates, the Cæsar the most holy adolescent with no trouble entreats, that to cure the nephew to Byzantium himself he should betake. He came, saw, and cured, and cast out by the sole sign of the Cross the demons.
[3] Which done both of the Cæsar and h of Ariadne and Zeno that grace he entered, that him among the courtiers not only they reckoned, but also among the dearer they held. To Leo and the courtiers supremely dear For he was eminent among the rest not of body only in form and appearance, which him eminently amiable rendered; but also in mind's gifts, by which both to the Cæsar and to the rest, envy overcome, into admiration he was turned. For if the courtiers of that time's manners with our these in any way are to be compared; not unjustly we judge, the most holy adolescent's youth by the omnipotent God's hand guarded to have been, since the Cæsar's disposition, daily more, and more, against that which in courts is customary, to himself not only conciliated, but over the same nearly he dominated. For what else is to be believed? when in that, so to say, of strangers city (where without home and certain seats it is lived, where the crop of ambition luxuriates, rage emulations, and the envious; veteran fraud, as in its own resides, and dominates pride more than tyrannical) not only to no one hateful, but to all equally dear, on account of his eximious virtues. and by all loved he was: with those especially manners furnished, which through diameter to those above are opposed. For he was of truth tenacious, the care of honesty and integrity most ancient having, of a more liberal education retentive: those indeed among courtiers either slow, or rustic, or sluggish for the most part are judged, just as also of the celestial edicts prudent and of the interdicts fearful, inept utterly and crazy. Among the foulest therefore of court life rites, the innate as of an irradiating sun's brightness no filth defiled; by which things it was effected, that all envy set aside the first with the Cæsar to him of their own accord they conceded. No work he not gladly underwent, where both of the Cæsar, and especially of God and of Christ the Savior, joined was both the honor and the dignity.
[4] By these therefore arts, but God above all aid from the heavens supplying, in authority, counsel, and prudence with the Cæsar so much he prevailed, to the chief affairs to be conducted set over, that nothing at all, without Valerianus either he did or thought; and the arduous affairs both of war and of peace to be treated, not only he was present at, but even was set over. Which all the holy man, having taken auspices always of God most high the name, began, treated, accomplished. Through that time moreover, by God the best the greatest's permission, that a new to us from Armenia benefit should flow, it happened that Gaiseric [i] of the Vandals King at Rome gaping, from Africa into this expedition the greatest forces prepared. Emperor by the army Severian substituted, the care of war bore and of peace. Are announced to Leo Gaiseric's preparations: wherefore the greatest equipped he sends; and is added to him Valerianus, not a Soldier or Centurion, strenuously he aids in driving from Italy Gaiseric King of the Vandals, or Tribune, but Legate and Count, by whose excellent auspices knew the Cæsar how much to hope he could. These with joined to Anthemius forces, against Populonia's m shores the enemy meet, and the battle joined into flight are turned; and went away Gaiseric with his into Africa.
[5] But because by diverse motions Italy was vexed, on this side the Alans through the Trentine passes breaking in, on that side by civil discords through the Arians everywhere raging; and the Arians to be subdued. decreed Basiliscus and Valerianus the army divided Italy, if they could, from those tumults to vindicate. And so the provinces apportioned among themselves, Flaminia and all that part of Italy, which on this side the Apennine between both the Alps and the Adriatic gulf inclines, to Valerianus was attributed. He had indeed a most expeditious army, with foot and horse fortified, but much more robust and firmer rendered it eighty men's unconquered band, who from saint Valerianus never withdrew; but in prayers with him passing the night, victory, the Angels against the monstrous Church's enemies with them fighting, everywhere prepared. With these many things strenuously he did, great of the adversaries slaughters he made, before himself into this city's sight he gave. This held, then n Leobavus a certain of the Goths Duke, and the same of the Arian sect a champion most keen. Valerianus therefore with those eighty, whom as the purple-clad about all he consulted, With these Forum-Livii to snatch attempting, resolved the city so with a siege to press, that in whatever way it should be given, most defiled with the stain expurgated from the most monstrous tyrant's servitude to be freed. Wherefore the walls circumvallated the army led, nothing which to the assault pertained omitting the most holy man, and the same strenuous; the matter to that point brought, that the city for the morrow to the soldiers to be assaulted he proclaimed. Was wont on the single nights B. Valerianus with frequent prayers help from the Powers above to implore, and with those eighty from the army to withdraw, that more fervent to God prayers of them by the Angels might be carried. through snares with 80 men he is slain, This through scouts learned Leobavus; wherefore through the night's silence a sally made, the praying and with whole mind on God intent he invades, prostrates, and all with a monstrous slaughter o butchers. O unworthy deed! O crime unheard-of! What then those swords, what then the blades did? whose sides they sought? Not of those certainly who hope in man had placed, or in their own forces trusted; not of those who the city to be plundered, and with fire and iron to be devastated to the soldiers had proposed: not that was their sense, not this mind; but their bodies they invaded, who all their thoughts, all counsels to God referring, the same to others' salvation directed, who for their own salvation enough to be provided esteemed, if for another's first the care they had undertaken. Happy souls, and thrice and four times blessed, in the body or outside the body I know not, the monstrous of the barbarians savagery experienced. For I judge, through that most blessed ecstasy, you the bodies left, into heaven rapt, the arcana to have seen, which it is not lawful for a man to speak; and in those the return to these forgetting, of corporeal death the punishment not to have tasted; but before death to the prepared for you place, to the Powers above to have flown away. O our happy city! for whose salvation of so great men the souls, while praying at the Most High's throne they stood, merited with martyrdom's crown to be adorned, that by their perpetual prayers our salvation never intermitted should stand. By barbarous therefore cruelty the most holy men from the midst taken away, the army all none the less to the assault intent, and the city to the Catholics is restored. a few interposed days the city obtained; and the Arian forces to extermination cut down, by the most holy Valerianus's prayers (as to be believed it is fitting) to the Catholic faith the city restored. They say among those, who the death of the holy men and the city's assault between elapsed days, many nights B. Valerianus the city's walls to ride round [p] was seen: wherefore by common counsel, his and his companions' bodies to burial given, even of his name was constructed a church, which now by a corrupted word [q] of Saint-Varanus we call. In the Annals also written I see, which a church constructed, the City him also a Protector to have wished, with S. Mercurialis a Patron him they have. and to the most holy Mercurialis a Co-tutelary made, so that thenceforth his holy image, just as he himself had been seen, on a horse sitting, for the seal [r] of the City he used.
ANNOTATIONS.
c Leo by race saluted, began from the beginning of April to reign, having died at the beginning of the year 474.
that which in the author's age was called the Empire of the Greeks: those moreover who had preceded of Constantine's or Theodosius's stock Emperors from the West their race led: Marcian indeed a Thracian was.
e Progeny namely male.
i Gaiseric entered Rome in the year 455. But because surviving he reigned even to the year 476, seems here to be understood Italy against other invasions defended.
p The Italian Epitome says, so seen in the very city's defense, since it several times was besieged by enemies.
q Adds the same Bonoli, by some to be handed down in that place him to have been with martyrdom crowned.
r Indicates the same this legend to be subscribed: S. Valerianus the Martyr, Protector of the city of Forlì.