Cyril

ON SAINT CYRIL,

BISHOP OF TREVES.

Memorials of his Episcopate and cult, from various sources.

ABOUT THE YEAR CCCCLVIII.

Cyril, Bishop of Treves (S.)

An ancient parchment codex of a Martyrology, written under the name of Usuard in Alsace, Anciently venerated: has on this XIX of May these things toward the end: At Treves, of Cyril Bishop and Confessor. Which plainly the same are read in a manuscript Martyrology and Kalendar of Treves, likewise in a manuscript of Prague, and in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in the year MCCCCXC, as in Greven and Molanus in the Additions to Usuard, and in Canisius, Galesinius, and Ferrarius. His Elogium in a manuscript Florarium of the Saints is held thus. At Treves the deposition of S. Cyril, Bishop of that same city. He repaired the cell of S. Eucharius, burnt and deserted, and constituted a monastery not far from the former place, and translated thither the bodies of SS. Eucharius and his successors, beside which he himself also rests, in the year of salvation CCCCLVIII. These things there.

[2] The predecessor of S. Cyril in the Episcopate was S. Severus, to whom the sacred day is held to be the XV of October. Browerus in book 5 of the Annals of Treves at the year CCCCLV, the death of S. Severus being related, adds these things: In his place Cyril entered the magistracy, a Pontiff of esteemed innocence of morals, who likewise after the destruction of the city, the remnants of the Belgic people, and also the new plantings of the Frankish nation, He devoted himself to the restoration of the churches: we have learned, even from this, to have cultivated with Christian rites, that it is guarded and propagated by public monuments, that he, after the destruction of the city, undertook the damages of the sacred buildings to be repaired, and to the loss of roofs in whatever

manner to be repaired he conferred all his zeal: wherefore, the oratory of S. Eucharius being restored, he not only restored to it its pristine adornment, but also took care that a monastery be made and placed not far thence. To which the Pontiff added also that dignity and veneration, he is buried with other Saints that, the sacred pledges of his predecessors, Eucharius, Valerius, and Maternus, being there brought in, the place might thereafter be august and more celebrated by the religion of those visiting and worshiping; and thence he himself too, that which while surviving he had had in his vows, when on the nineteenth of May he had rendered his most pure and holy soul to his Maker, obtained burial. John Scheckmann in the Epitome or Marrow of the Deeds of Treves, from the German of John Enen rendered into Latin and printed in the year MDXVII, in book 2 chapter 7 has these things concerning Cyril: He repaired the cell of S. Eucharius, which now is called the basilica of S. Matthias, burnt and desolate, the bodies of SS. Eucharius, Valerius, and Maternus, Bishops, being translated into the same, beside whom he himself too is buried and rests. The same in book 3 treating of the monastery of S. Matthias. By the burning of fire, he says, after the church was destroyed and fallen, in the church of S. Matthias the blessed Archprelate Cyril, not far from the former, erected and consecrated another. The Life of S. Matthias we gave on the XXIV of February, and together the history of the Body translated to Treves, and there in chapter IV we enumerated the Relics in the said church from a manuscript of Treves. But in the major altar are said to be the Relics of the Bishop Confessors Eucharius, Valerius, Maternus, Agricius, Cyril… of the holy Bishops of Treves. The natal of S. Eucharius is celebrated on the VIII of December, of S. Maternus on the XIV of September, and of S. Valerius on the XXIX of January; on which day we illustrated the Acts of these Bishops, as also of S. Agricius on the XIII day of the same month of January.

[3] Browerus praised above brings forward most ancient verses, by which he interprets the monuments of the old basilica and that repaired by S. Cyril to have been illustrated, which here to subjoin be worth the labor.

How well does the Divine power join those in concord! The members of the priests, which it adorns, this place, of two; It tells of Eucharius, and of Valerius likewise. Rejoicing to compose a seat for members about to live, Placing this altar for the holy Brothers, Cyril, The holy marker-out adorns the lodging of the body.

Browerus judges that S. Maternus was omitted, perhaps because buried separately. Some have formed elogia of him: Ghinius in the Natalia of the Holy Canons and Saussajus in the Gallican Martyrology: but such as seem capable of being attributed to all and each of the holy Bishops. A notable part of the Relics of S. Cyril the Bishop, Relics at Prague. he writes, was brought from Treves to Prague by the Emperor Charles IV in the year MCCCLXXII. So writes in the Prague Diary Thomas John Pessina.

ON S. EVONIUS, BISHOP

IN THE PROVINCE OF AUVERGNE IN GAUL.

Arguments of ancient cult: doubts concerning the person.

Evonius, Bishop in the province of Auvergne in Gaul (S.)

G. H.

[1] Issorium or Issodorum or Iciodorum, a city of Gaul in lower Auvergne on the river Allier, commonly Issoire, is distant toward the South five leagues from Clermont, in whose diocese it is, Near Issoire, and contains in its district the parish of S. Evonius, or Ivonius, commonly Curé de Saint-Ive, whose Pastor is named from the Abbot of Issoire. John Savaron published a treatise on the holy Churches and monasteries of Clermont by an anonymous author, whom he judges to have flourished about the year DCCCCL. This author in book 2 chapter 15 writes these things: In the church of S. Evonius, the altar of S. Evonius, a church and altar of S. Evonius, the altar of S. Martial, the altar of S. Petronilla. To which heading Savaron notes these things. The church destroyed, which retains the name in the suburb of Rubiacum, and is commonly called of S. Igon, of S. Ivonius. An old manuscript book of Mauriac, where concerning the translation of S. Austremonius, from the aforesaid fortress, namely Petra-incisa, which now is called S. Ivonius, was carried to Iciodorum &c.; whose feast is celebrated in this fortress of S. Ivonius not far from Iciodorum, a statue with the insignia of a Bishop. and his statue is fashioned with Episcopal insignia: and since his history is not extant, the Acts of S. Ivo are read, which is absurd, not to say irreligious. Of Eonius the Bishop, successor of Leontius, Ruricius makes mention in book I chapter 15 and book 2 chapter 15.

[2] These things Savaron. Of S. Ivo, Presbyter of Tréguier in Armorica, cult on May 19. commonly the Advocate of the Poor, we treat below on this day, that it may be seen that on occasion of him this day too was chosen for the cult and veneration of S. Evonius, of whom Saussajus has these things in the Gallican Martyrology: Near Iciodorum in Auvergne, of S. Evonius, Bishop and Confessor, celebrated by the glory of the highest virtues and heavenly charisms: whose most ancient church, dedicated to his sacred memory, is seen in the suburbs of the city of Clermont. But the fortress marked with his name in the aforesaid tract, as it rejoices in perpetual patronages, so today it observes his feast with worthy solemnities. These things Saussajus, the words of Savaron amplified.

[3] The aforesaid S. Austremonius the Bishop is venerated on the Kalends of November, whose translation of body to Mauriac was made under King Pepin in the year DCCLXIV. But S. Aeonius, Could S. Eonius the Bishop of Arles be believed? or Eonius, successor of Leontius, seems to be the Bishop of Arles, whose feast will be treated on the XXX of August. That this one and the same can be reckoned with him who here is called Evonius, is not easy to establish from the sole suspicion of the aforesaid Savaron. When we once illustrated the Acts of S. Praejectus, Bishop of Clermont, on the XXV of January, it also occurred to us to think that this Evonius perhaps was that Evodius praised in the same place, of whom in the prior Acts at number 2 these things are handed down: or S. Evodius the companion of S. Praejectus Bp. of Clermont? Praejectus at that time had as companion a most sagacious man of sacred religion and of clear sanctity, Evodius, who recalled many peoples of Auvergne and the neighboring cities, ensnared by the reins of the ancient serpent, to the bosom of the holy Catholic Church through the antidote of salutary penance. In the later Acts these things are thus read at number 13. When he was mighty in holy morals, he chose for himself as companion a certain religious man, Evodius by name, through whom holy preaching invited the souls of many to heavenly desires.