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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 3, 2. Of the Episcopate of Dinifius, Apollinaris, and Quintianus
On the death of Licinius, bishop of Tours, Dinifius ascended the episcopal throne. At Clermont, after the decease of the blessed Aprunculus, the holy Eufrasius ruled as the twelfth bishop of the see. He lived four years after the death of Clovis, passing away in the twenty-fifth year of his episcopate. The choice of the people fell upon the holy Quintianus, who had been expelled from Rodez; but Alcima and Placidina, wife and sister of Apollinaris, came to the holy Quintianus and said: ‘Let it content thee, holy lord, in thine old age to have been appointed bishop, and let thy piety allow thy servant Apollinaris to occupy this post of honour. Be sure that when he has reached it he will do thy pleasure. It will be for thee to command, and for him to obey thy direction in all things. Do thou only lend a kindly ear to this our humble proposal.’ He answered: ‘What can I do, since I have power over nothing? Enough for me if, while I devote my days to prayer, the church provide me my daily bread.’ Receiving this reply, these ladies sent Apollinaris to the king, and going with many gifts, he obtained the succession to the bishopric. But after abusing the dignity for four months he departed from this world. When the news of his death was carried to Theuderic, he commanded that the holy Quintianus should be appointed to the see, and all ecclesiastical power vested in him, adding these words: ‘He was banished from his city on account of his love towards myself.’ Forthwith messengers were dispatched, and bishops and people, meeting together, placed him on the throne of Clermont, as the fourteenth ruler of the church in that city. The rest of his acts, his miracles, and the time of his passing away are recorded in the book which I have written on his life.1
Notes
- V. P., ch. iv.