ON ST. TANCHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR, IN THE DIOCESE OF TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE IN GAUL,
IN AN UNCERTAIN CENTURY.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
The Saint's memory in the Martyrologies: her cult: relics: the time of her martyrdom uncertain, and the Passion to be published.
Tancha, virgin and martyr, in the diocese of Troyes in Champagne in Gaul. (S.)
BY J. B. F.
The diocese of Troyes, by holiness of life and precious in the sight
of the Lord by her death, The Saint, whom the martyrologists record, which she underwent with heroic spirit for the defence of chastity, St. Tancha, whose Acts we present today, has rendered more illustrious. This Maiden, lovable to God and men by the brightness of her virtues, unknown to and passed over by the ancient martyrologists, is recorded today for the first time in the Lübeck-Cologne Auctarium of Usuard in Sollerius in this manner: At Troyes, of St. (feminine) Ancha, virgin and martyr. These words Greven copied, and from him afterwards Molanus, who however writes better Tancha, Maurolycus, Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints who are not in the Roman Martyrology, and Canisius in the German Martyrology; to these is added the Paris Martyrology, in which is read: Near Ramerupt in the territory of Troyes, of St. Tancha, who met a glorious death for the defence of her virginity; and the Universal Martyrology published in French by Chastelain, whose words rendered into Latin run thus: At Lhuître, near Ramerupt, a town of the diocese of Troyes, in Champagne in Gaul, of St. Tancha, virgin and martyr, honoured in the diocese of Angers. To these martyrologists cited add the Martyrologies of the church of Troyes and of the monasteries of Montier-la-Celle and St. Loup. Arthur du Monstier in his Gynæceum makes the following mention of St. Tancha: In the territory of Arcis near the town of Ramerupt, of the diocese of Troyes, of St. Tancha, virgin and martyr, who, born of an illustrious lineage, kept faith with Christ her Bridegroom both by purity of mind and integrity of body, and also empurpled it with her blood.
[2] she is venerated in various churches of the diocese Various churches of the diocese of Troyes celebrate our Saint with the honours of the heavenly ones, some with the rite, as they call it, of semidouble, others with more solemn cult and with an Octave, such as are the churches of the parish of Lhuître, which is a league and a half distant from the town of Ramerupt, and of the convent of Blessed Mary in the city of Troyes, where her sacred head, enclosed in a silver reliquary, is preserved. I learn this from the Annotations which Nicolas Des Guerrois added at the end of the Life of our Saint in the Work whose title is The Holiness of the Christian Diocese and City of Troyes; I have presented them in this Latin interpretation: At Troyes the monastery of St. Mary-of-the-Nuns, of the Order of St. Benedict, possesses the precious head of St. Tancha, enclosed in a silver reliquary; in which monastery she is solemnly venerated every year on the tenth day of October; the same is also done on the 10th of October and the Sunday next following in the church of the parish of Lhuître, to which neighbouring and far distant peoples flock for the sake of veneration.
[3] of Troyes, The other places in which St. Tancha is honoured with special veneration are enumerated by Arthur du Monstier in the Annotations which he inserted in his Gynæceum at the 17th day of April, which day is that of the translation of St. Tancha. Here are his words: She (St. Tancha) is venerated with immense veneration in many places of the diocese of Troyes, districts, townships, towns; namely in the parishes of Lhuître, Arcis, Isles, Ramerupt etc., and in the city of Troyes: where her head, enclosed in a silver reliquary, is preserved at the abbey of Our Lady-of-the-Nuns of the Benedictine Order, and is held in great reverence: a solemn Office is made of her. The cited Des Guerrois relates, in the Work already cited, page 154, that in the territory of the parish of Lhuître there exist two chapels in which our Saint is honoured with the cult usually paid to the patrons of churches; one, namely, fairly well built, in which the feast-days of the Saint herself are celebrated with a more solemn rite, not without a great multitude flocking to her from every side; the other very old, erected in the Saint's honour by the victorious English in the reign of Charles VI. In the former chapel, which is called of Bouchet, the Saint was buried, and by the dust of her very sepulchre, preserved in the named chapel, as the cited Des Guerrois relates, those suffering from a flux of blood are healed.
[4] And from this it becomes abundantly known what and how great veneration is paid to our Saint in these churches. and in the diocese of Angers. But not only in the diocese of Troyes, but also in the diocese of Angers the honours of the heavenly ones are shown to St. Tancha by the recitation of two lessons, which, taken from the Breviary of the same diocese, I set before the reader here to be read. First lesson: Tancha, virgin, was born of a father of Antioch, an upright and just man: who, compelled to leave his fatherland for the sake of the faith, dwelt in the territory of Champagne not far from the town of Ramerupt. She, endowed with a mild and gentle disposition, adorned the gentleness of her nature with a singular sweetness of manners and humility. And since she had consecrated herself to God from infancy, she strove to please him alone, always thinking of heavenly things in her mind and holding earthly things in contempt. And with how great a love of chastity she was held, the very outcome of the matter proved. Second lesson: For when, at her father's command, she was setting out on horseback to Arcis, for the sake of visiting a certain kinsman on her father's side who had received her from the sacred font, the servant who was escorting her first began to solicit her with words to defilement, then, drawing his sword, to threaten death unless she complied with his lust. To whom Tancha said: It is better for me to die than to fall into the hands of a sinner. Then indeed he, throwing the Virgin from her horse, when, having laid hands on her, he had tried to do her violence, struck her heavily, as she resisted bravely, on the mouth and cheeks with a blow of the hilt of his sword, so that a great quantity of blood flowed from her mouth and nostrils; and presently, cutting her neck, he cut off her head, on the sixth day before the Ides of October. Of her this memorable thing also is handed down after death, that she held up her head with both hands and, walking just as if she were alive, carried it from the hill of Banie, where she was slain, for the space of a stadium, as far as the valley of Lhuître, where her body, found a long time after by the indication of a divine revelation, declared the Virgin's holiness by many miracles performed.
[5] And let these things said about the Saint's cult suffice. Of her sacred relics we shall now say a few things. Her relics, except the head, are not found today. We have observed above that the precious head of our Saint is preserved at Troyes in the convent of St. Mary: furthermore, the writers who have mentioned the Saint relate that her sacred body was buried in a chapel near the church of Lhuître. But in which church of the said diocese these sacred pledges now exist, M. Des Guerrois openly confesses to be altogether unknown, and the Acts prove it which the lord John, the 77th bishop of Troyes, ordered to be drawn up in the year of the Incarnate Word 1441, in order to impose silence on the inhabitants of the parishes of Isles and of Lhuître, who were sharply disputing about the relics of the same Saint. These Acts or public Instruments M. Camuzat records in the Promptuarium of the church of Troyes; I do not think it necessary to set their whole series before the reader; not to be too long, I transcribe the words which most pertain to this matter: In the name of the Lord, amen. To all who shall inspect the present letters, John, by divine mercy bishop of Troyes, greeting in the Lord. Whereas lately … we strictly prohibit the above-said parishioners and inhabitants of Isles and of the said Ramerupt from presuming henceforth to affirm that the body of the above-said Blessed Tancha is with them or in their church, lest on this pretext they in future draw back, or in any way knowingly hinder, those going for the sake of pilgrimage, or wishing to go, to the above-said church of Lhuître, or to the chapel of Bouchet beside the said Lhuître, in which the glorious body of the above-said Saint was buried and interred… Truly, although in the Legend of the oft-said Saint, found both at the church of Lhuître and elsewhere, it is well provided that the above-said body was raised and exhumed from the said chapel of Bouchet, and miraculously laid and encased at the said church of Lhuître, yet because in these times nothing or little of the above-said body is found there, we likewise prohibit the parishioners and inhabitants of that township of Lhuître from daring in future to assert as true that the glorious body of the aforenamed holy Virgin is at their aforesaid church, unless perhaps in future it should both be found there and this very thing be decreed by episcopal or other sufficient authority. But that those relics were not found afterwards either, the cited Des Guerrois indicates in clear words in the Annotata to the Life of the same Saint in his oft-cited Work.
[6] The time of her martyrdom is uncertain. The time at which the Saint was consummated by a most glorious martyrdom for the defence of chastity cannot as yet be defined for certain. The Saint's Acts narrate that her parents left Antioch, a very celebrated city of Syria, for fear of persecutions, and dwelt in the territory of Ramerupt of the diocese of Troyes; but in what century that migration took place no note of time teaches, nor is the opinion of the authors who have laboured to commend the Saint's Acts to posterity the same. Lahier, in the Menology of the Holy Virgins, fixes that coming about the year of restored Salvation 300, at which time the Romans, as he relates, were tyrannically harassing the people of Antioch. But others will have it that they fled from Syria into Champagne in the sixth century, namely when the city of Antioch had been taken by Chosroes. Finally Des Guerrois, in the Notes to the Life of St. Tancha, says that the Saint's parents departed from Antioch in the thirty-seventh year of the seventh century, while the Saracens, all Syria having already been devastated, were cruelly persecuting the people of Antioch; of which opinion Chastelain seems to have been, who in the French Martyrology, in the margin at the 10th day of October, ascribed the death-time of our Saint to the 7th century. But to none of these three opinions brought forward, which are so many conjectures, may one safely enough adhere; since the authors who wish to determine here by conjecturing the time of her birthday in heaven, unknown for lack of monuments, in no way merit undoubted credence, being too far removed from the age of St. Tancha.
[7] The Passion to be published. As regards the Acts of St. Tancha, which, under the following title, The Passion of St. Tancha, virgin and martyr, or The Legend of St. Tancha, M. Des Guerrois, Fr. Lahier, Arthur du Monstier, Fr. Simon Martin in the Holy Relics of the Desert, and René Benoît have transmitted to posterity by the benefit of the press, they agree in almost all things with the Passion to be published here, which, taken from the manuscript Legendary of Provins, is preserved in our literary stock. To those Acts, as also to the Passion to be subjoined to this Commentary, although they seem to have been copied from old Legendaries, I nevertheless judge that undoubted faith is not to be given in all things, since they are furnished with no chronological note from which the age of the Saint, or the time at which the Acts were written, could be extracted; furthermore, it is established on no head that all things which are related in them were drawn from contemporary or nearly contemporary writers. Of the antiquity of these Acts I cannot say much: for I believe them old indeed, if we wish to look to our own age: but they were probably composed a long time after the Saint's death. Hence we can attribute no other authority to them than that from these Acts or Passion it becomes known what the tradition about St. Tancha once was in the diocese of Troyes, and perhaps still continues to be.
THE PASSION OF ST. TANCHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR,
By an anonymous author,
From the Ms. Legendary of Provins.
Tancha, virgin and martyr, in the diocese of Troyes in Champagne in Gaul. (S.)
BHL Number: 7979
By an Anonymous author.
PROLOGUE.
Our Lord Jesus Christ reigning without end, yes even from the mystery of the Incarnate Word himself, but from the triumph of his Passion or of his glorious Resurrection and Ascension, the confession of the Saints everywhere on earth was so illustriously zealous that many of every kind, sex and age obtained by martyrdom the crown of perpetual glory, while there was joy among the citizens of heaven on high over the sheep that were found, and happy exultation before the Lord. The glorious virgin Tancha also, made a new martyr in the time of the Christians, shone forth glowing upon the world like Hesperus or Lucifer among the ethereal stars in the flowery days of spring a. Since the course of this page has presented her origin as uncertain, the writer charges the old relators with the responsibility for its truth, lest he offend Christ, whom he fears: except that, because charity hopes and believes all things that are pious, he delivers to his hearers the report of the Virgin, sprung from comely * birth b. Whence also it often happens that the course of events draws out from their own borders as fugitives and wanderers both noble and middling, both greater and lesser, so that as exiles they may arrange more secretly their life and counsel, the time and manner of their condition. But happy are they who for Christ, embracing poverty for wealth and hardship for softness, desire to be exiled, so that, removed from carnal kinsfolk and friends, they may be more freely set free for the services of the Lord. And those who, having followed the Lord according to the Gospel, forsaking father and mother, wife and children and possessions, and denying themselves to themselves, are to sit in the loftiness of the twelve Apostles and to judge the world in equity with the Son of God, are, being so perfect, to be honoured by the King of heaven with so great honour, so great dignity.
ANNOTATA.
* read vetustis.
SOLE CHAPTER.
The Saint's piety and chastity in youth, for the defence of which she is cruelly killed.
The Saint from her tender years And so certain worshippers of Christ of most illustrious race, having set out from Antioch towards the West with their wives and children and goods, were conveyed into France, and, settling as newcomers, some in the territory of Ramerupt a, others in that of Arcis b, wished to be tillers of the soil. Now the father of St. Tancha, intending to dwell not far from the aforesaid town, namely Ramerupt, three miles lower down towards the rising of the sun, fixed his tent after the manner of the holy Patriarchs, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, ruling his house and instructing his household in holy fear according to the precept of the Lord. Blessed Tancha, with the gentleness of a dove, like a lily among thorns, always had a contrite and humble heart among the worldly people where she was: while her mind, far estranged, was absent from those whom she saw present. For from the first beginnings of her years she had consecrated her infancy to Christ the Lord, and the little Maiden, of a fair and holy disposition, despising the world in her manners and acts, grew from virtue to virtue, preferring that her life should be hidden with God alone rather than tossed about by human praises and popular breezes, through ill fame or favour, or tossing the contrary way.
[3] piety towards God and And because the happy Youth could not, on account of the guardianship of her parents and the throng of the household, fulfil in all things what she bore within her in holy devotion, so much the more strongly did she burn with the love of her Creator. Hence also it was said by those heathens: the more the fire is covered, the more the covered fire rages: and a greater virtue reigned in a slight body, and goodness is nourished in the weakness of tender age, and virtue is perfected in infirmity. And as a pillar of smoke from the aromatical spices of myrrh and frankincense and of all the powders of the perfumer goes up on high through the desert; so the Blessed virgin Tancha, mortified from concupiscences, and kindled with fervour of Spirit, and adorned with all the flowers and fragrances of the virtues, among a people of disordered manners directed the devotion of her mind on high to the ears of the Lord, whose whole intention was occupied in heaven, saying with the Apostle: Our conversation is in heaven. If indeed I keep silence, the Lord being witness, about her hidden life, I believe that the pen of the writer would have been wanting rather than pious deeds.
[4] unconquered chastity, Therefore let us turn our discourse to that time at which the virginal Athlete fixed the moment for fighting against the devil. It had come to this c, that she was to be taken away, lest wickedness should alter her understanding or deceit beguile her soul, for her soul was pleasing to God in an immaculate life: therefore he hastened to bring her out of the midst of iniquities, so that, being made perfect in a short space, she might fulfil long times d. And that she did so many and so great and such things in her life, and that among the rest she favoured blessed chastity with the greatest zeal, the Lord declared in her departure. Then a kinsman e of the father of St. Tancha the virgin, dwelling at the town of Arcis, invited the father of the household himself to a banquet for the solemn days, that they might rejoice together in the Lord for two or three days. And when he had now come, that man of Arcis said to him: Where is my little daughter Tancha? (for he was, so to speak, her godfather, who had received the holy Infant from the sacred font) and he added: Have you not brought her with you? He answered and said: By no means; for she is guarding our property and directing the household. And behold, one of the servants of the house of Arcis, having got a horse ready, offers to go for the Maiden, and, at their bidding, set out.
[5] And when he had come to her and announced her father's commands, for the defence of which bravely with the Virgin of the Lord, doubting much and long, was afraid: but, fearing to pass over obedience to her father, she at length entrusted herself, doubtful, to the hostile youth, and they set out. And when they were now near the place which is called the Hill of Banaia, the ancient serpent put on the deadly companion, and he began to speak to the fearful Maiden of lust. But she, sighing, answered: It can by no means be that you should be joined with me; and seeing him possessed by diabolical poison, she began to look around, whether anyone ploughing or a wayfarer or a shepherd might be seen appearing afar off; but she saw no man at all whom she might call upon, crying out, as her helper; and when she saw that human help was lacking to her, she began with supported prayers to implore the help of the Lord, and turned her distracted mind to the Lord, saying: I was looking for the help of men, and there was no helper; I looked round, and there was none to give help; I sought, and there was none to aid. May the Lord God be my helper, that I be not confounded. Free, O Lord, my body and my soul from the persecuting and corrupting devil, and deign to send your Holy Spirit from the supernal seat of your Majesty, to defend and guard my chastity from this depraved pursuer, that his wickedness may not prevail against me, and that I may be able to come to meet you inviolate, and deign to number me among the company of the blessed spirits and the virgin choirs.
[6] That madman interrupted the Saint while she was still praying, blocking her way, she fights with the lustful man, and said: Why do you murmur so long? Either comply with my will, or my sword will pass through your flesh. Blessed Tancha answered: It is better for me to die than to fall into the hands of a sinner. Then he threw her from the horse, and himself dismounted, insane, and laying hands on her, the unchaste man f wished to do violence to the holy Virgin, who, repelling him from her, supported by the power of the Holy Spirit, stood firm and strong. For the power of the Holy Spirit surrounded her with such power that the Virgin of the Lord, immovable, could not be thrown down by the enemy. A contest takes place and both wrestle in the field; but not as anointing is wont to make sport of naked men in the wrestling-school; the unchaste man seeks to violate virginal modesty, but virginal honour resists, and the holy virgin defends her devoted chastity. Truth, sprung from the earth, came down standing present, which was heavenly; justice looked down from heaven; the Virgin strives and resists and fights back in the arena, angels watching, the Lord beholding. At length the most wicked enemy, seeing that he was gaining nothing, turned the fire of lust into the anger of fury, and began to strike the mouth and cheeks of the holy Virgin with the hilt of his sword, and a stream of blood flowing from her nostrils and mouth does not cease to run; then, brandishing his sword, he struck the Virgin's neck, and immediately, snatched away by the devil, he never appeared again.
[7] by whom she is killed. But Blessed Tancha, standing upright on her feet, immovable under the stroke of the smiter, did not fall, and holding her severed head, taken up in her own hands g, going from the place where she had been beheaded, carried it one stadium as far as the valley of Lhuître, an angel leading, and there, beside a thorn-tree, laid down the noble deposit of body and head h. O how venerable is that field and that holy place, where for the faith of Christ innocent blood of rosy beauty of martyrdom was shed. Yours be the thanks for this, O Christ, yours the praise, yours the power and the mighty works, who are truly glorious and wonderful and mighty in all things, who so glorify your Saints triumphing over the enemy of the human race that you deign to declare even in the female sex so great power and victory, and moreover such great wonders. Blessed Tancha, lying upon the ground in the solitude, none other than angels raised from the green turf, and the more she lacked human solace, the better was she cared for by the divine. At her renowned obsequies a throng of angels gathered, and the heavenly court shone round the virginal body with a hundred times a hundred thousand thousands of Saints; know that no other hands than angelic ones opened the earth and prepared the grave: none other than angels and spirits of the blessed placed the little body beneath and buried it. And because it is unworthy that the foot of sinners should presume to tread upon the bodies of the Saints, Christ from on high preserved the body in the depths: since therefore she lies on earth, God cares for her from the stars, that the ploughman should not furrow the clod over her remains, that the claws of the ravening birds, eagle or vulture, that wolf and dog should not violate the members of the one lying there; the heavenly power did not abandon the lifeless limbs; declaring to the earth the power of virginity, it showed to the peoples of how great goodness she was: for it set defences around the holy tomb, making the earth, against nature, on the Ides of October produce so many nettles, briars, thistles and thorns in a hedge around and over the tomb of the Virgin, that even the slenderest creeping thing could scarcely pass through that dense hedge.
ANNOTATA.
* perhaps Adolescentula?
* read nares