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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 2, 6. Of the Basilica of the Holy Stephen at Metz
The Huns, therefore, issuing from Pannonia, reached the town of Metz, as some say, on the vigil of the feast of Easter, devastating all the country. They gave the city to the flames, and slew the people with the edge of the sword, and did to death the priests of the Lord before the holy altars; no spot in the town remained unburned save the oratory of the blessed Stephen, protomartyr and deacon. The story of this oratory, as I heard it from certain persons, I will now relate. They say that before the coming of this enemy, one of the faithful in a vision saw the blessed deacon Stephen conferring with the holy apostles Peter and Paul about this destruction, and heard him say: ‘I beseech you, O my lords, that by your intercession ye suffer not the city of Metz to be burned to the ground by the enemy, for there is in it a place in which relics of this your humble petitioner are preserved; but rather let the people perceive that my power somewhat availeth with the Lord. But if the evil-doing of the people is waxed so great that the city must needs be given to the flames, at least suffer not this oratory to be burned.’ They answered: ‘Go in peace, most beloved brother, this oratory of thine shall alone be spared in the fire. For the city we shall not obtain this grace, seeing that the sentence of divine judgement is already gone forth upon it. For the sin of the people is grown great, and the sound of their wickedness is gone up before the Lord. For this cause shall this city be burned with fire.’ It is therefore beyond doubt that by their intercession the oratory remained unharmed.
But Attila, king of the Huns, going forth from Metz, subdued many cities of Gaul; and he came to Orleans, and battered it with rams, striving so to take the city. At that time the most blessed Anianus was bishop in this city, a man eminent in wisdom and renowned for holiness, the record of whose virtuous deeds are faithfully preserved among us. When the beleaguered people cried out to their bishop to know what they should do, he, trusting in God, enjoined them all to prostrate themselves in prayer, and with tears to implore the help of God, ever present in time of need. And while they prayed according to his bidding, the bishop cried: ‘Look forth from the city wall, if haply the pity of God succour us.’ For he deemed that by the mercy of the Lord Aëtius should come, whom before he had visited in Arles, foreseeing that which might come to pass. So they looked out from the wall, but saw no man. Then he said: ‘Pray in faith; for this day shall the Lord deliver you.’ And while they continued praying he said: ‘Look once more.’ And when they looked they saw none that might succour them. He said to them a third time: ‘If ye seek Him in faith, the Lord cometh among us right soon.’ Again with many tears and lamentations they besought the compassion of the Lord. But when their prayer was done, they looked forth from the wall a third time as the old man bade them, and behold they saw afar off as it might be a cloud rising from the earth. And they brought the bishop the news, and he said: ‘It is the succour of the Lord.’ And now the walls were already shaking under the shock of the rams, and on the point of falling, when behold Aëtius came; and Theodoric, king of the Goths, and Thorismond, his son, with their armies swiftly advanced upon the town, and cast forth and flung back the enemy. The city thus freed by the intercession of the blessed bishop, they put Attila to flight, who withdrew to the plain of Méry, and disposed his forces for battle. Which when they heard, they manfully made them ready against him.