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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 1, 35. Of Quiriacus, Bishop and Martyr

Under Diocletian, thirty-third Roman emperor, there arose a great persecution against the Christians, which lasted four years, so that on one occasion, even on the most holy day of Easter, great multitudes of Christians were slain for the worship of the true God. At that time Quirinus, bishop of the church of Siscia,¹ underwent a glorious martyrdom for the name of Christ. The savage pagans tied a millstone to his neck and thrust him into the stream of the river. But when he had fallen therein, he floated for a long time on the water through the divine power, nor might the waters swallow up one whom no weight of sin pressed down. The multitude which stood round, marvelling at what was done, ran to the aid of their priest, reckless of the fury of the Gentiles. But he, seeing their intent, would not endure to be withdrawn from martyrdom, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, said: ‘Lord Jesus, Thou who sittest in glory at the right hand of the Father, suffer me not to be taken from this course that I run, but receive my soul and deign to join me to Thy martyrs in eternal rest.’ With these words he gave up the ghost. His body was taken up by the Christians and reverently committed to the earth.

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