Eustorgius I
Saint Eustorgius I | |
---|---|
See | Mediolanum |
Appointed | 343 AD |
Term ended | c. 349 |
Predecessor | Protasius |
Successor | Dionysius |
Personal details | |
Died | c. 349 |
Sainthood | |
Feast day | September 18 |
Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
Shrines | Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio, Milan |
Eustorgius I (Italian: Eustorgio) was bishop of Milan from 343 to about 349. He is honoured as a Saint in both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast day is on the September 18.[1]
Life
According to the tradition, Eustorgius was a noble
From 345 to 346 and from 347 to 348, he held two
Legend
His legendary Vita dates from the 12th century and exists in 20 different documents.
The
- "In the days of Philipp of Heinsberg, who followed Reinaldus, the shrine of the three magi was built. This was told to me by some eyewitnesses who were present when the three magi were put into the shrine." (Vita Eustorgii))[11]
The Vita Beati Eustorgii Confessoris reports around the year 1200:
"... The holy Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, was one with all virtues affected and a very much pious woman regarding the Christian religion. Therefore, she proved uncommon eagerness in collecting relics of the holy ones. She traveled in own person through those widen countries of the Roman realm to the Orient and to the Western World. There she built over the bodies of the martyrs, who were killed by cruelty of tyrants because their Christian names, substantial memorials. Apart from the many fameful proofs of her piety to God she also accumulated the bodies of the Three Magi together, who were buried in different places, and Helena brought the bodies towards Constantinople. In this city they remained in large honours until the times of the emperor Manuel. At that time Eustorgius lived, Greek birth, a very informed man, nobly and piously, of pleasing exterior, eloquently, for the service to God quite been suitable and in this service turned, a guard of the faith, and also chaste, and a native from Constantinople, before the times of bishop Saint Ambrose of Milan. He came as an ambassador of the emperor Manuel to Milan, and the people of Milan selected him to bishop. Therefore, Eustorgius returned to Constantinople, said thanks to the emperor and spoke: My father and emperor Manuel, I thanks you that you have appreciated the honour towards me up to now and that you have sent me into the holy city Milan, your metropolis. You should know that I have achieved everything, faithfully and after your will, the deliveries are always secured for you, but I am however the chosen one of the city, because you, in honour of God and to praise his charitableness. I unworthy one was urgent asked to return and to announce, what in the view on our God and on you your you faithfully resulted people have done at me and like the people delegated these envoys with me to you. Intend mine and instruct, what I am to do. The emperor answered: Become bishop, worthy man. Eustorgius answers: I thank God and you; but allow, dearest gentleman, that I can carry forward and can take away to the holy city of Milan anything of the sanctuaries, which me liked, if God's benignity permits it, in order to honour the church with holy relics, and as a gratification for your tributary people. The emperor answers: Select, receive, carry forward, which you would like. Be as if you are, or, is it possible, become still better. Greet my people and announce that from now on the whole delivery is issued. Thus Eustorgius went pleased, and he manufactured a marmorean coffin with large effort, and put into it the bodies of the Three Kings, who had brought Christus their gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. With trouble under many nights in which he was awake, and through God's assistance and amicability he transported it towards Milan into the city. The sarcophagus became buried outside of the city-wall closely beside the city in a church, which later was sanctified to honor holy Eustorgius. Also there is a famous and very holy source, where the neophytes had received the holy baptism, all Christians pious veneration with dignity. ..."
Notes
- ISBN 88-7023-154-2.(in Italian)
- ISBN 88-7030-891-X.(in Italian)
- ^ Muratori, Ludovico Antonio, Rerum Italicarum scriptores 2, 2, Versus de Mediolano, Bologna 1975, page 689
- ^ "The Missale Ambrosianum originating with St. Ambrose, 18 September: S. Eustorgii Episc. et Conf". Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
- ^ Latin original:
- "Sunt in antiqua membrana cet. versus S. Eustorgii: Virtutum signis pollens Eustorgius almus / digna laude piis en celebrandus adest / Cuius plura quidem clara inter facta beati / insigne hoc unum fama refert populi / Constructam reboans ingentem Caesaris urnam / iussu qua trabeis occuleret proprios / Per comptos artus per sedam denique multis / haud valuisse iugis applicitis vehere / Pontifici demum hanc condonasse benigne / quam parvis vaccis omnipotentis ope / Iunctis quo volvit duxisse proximus in qua / hactenus et summo fultus honore iacet" (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 5,2: vol. V, Inscriptiones Galliae Cisalpinae Latinae, edit by Th. Mommsen, pars II, Inscriptiones regionum Italiae undecimae et nonae, 1877 (impr. iter. 1959), page 621, ISBN 3-7928-0376-3; and in: Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby EDCS Archived 2011-06-22 at the Wayback MachineRequires some navigation: go to "Suchtext 1" (search 1), type "Eustorgius" in "Suchtext 1" field, and click "Absenden"
- "Sunt in antiqua membrana cet. versus S. Eustorgii: Virtutum signis pollens Eustorgius almus / digna laude piis en celebrandus adest / Cuius plura quidem clara inter facta beati / insigne hoc unum fama refert populi / Constructam reboans ingentem Caesaris urnam / iussu qua trabeis occuleret proprios / Per comptos artus per sedam denique multis / haud valuisse iugis applicitis vehere / Pontifici demum hanc condonasse benigne / quam parvis vaccis omnipotentis ope / Iunctis quo volvit duxisse proximus in qua / hactenus et summo fultus honore iacet" (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 5,2: vol. V, Inscriptiones Galliae Cisalpinae Latinae, edit by Th. Mommsen, pars II, Inscriptiones regionum Italiae undecimae et nonae, 1877 (impr. iter. 1959), page 621,
- ISBN 3-7928-0376-3
- ^ William of Newburgh, book 2, chapter 8: Of the destruction of Milan; and of the relics of the magi; Latin original: "Willelmi Neuburgensis Historia Anglicana", MGH 27, p.230
- Gilles of Orval, Gesta episcoporum Leodiensium, in 1250, MGH 25, p.108,14; 5. Ottonis Frisingensis chronica, MGH, Scriptores, 20, p. 310, 51; 6. Gelenius, Aegidius, De admiranda sacra et civili magnitudine Coloniae Claudiae Agripinensis Augustae Ubiorum urbis, Köln 1645, page 233, written in 1645: "& ferme integris corporibus, nervis, & cute arida ac impurribili conspicui sunt, ope, ut putatur, Balsami aliorumque Arabiae liquorum, quibus corpora curari olim mos fuit"
- ^ Rainald von Dassel announces the Cologners his return and the delivery of the bodies of the Holy Three Kings. The original letter - Vercelli, 12 June 1164
- ^ Hofmann, Hans, Die Rückführung von Teilen der Dreikönigsreliquien von Köln nach Mailand 1903 - 1904, in: Jahrbuch des Kölnischen Geschichtsvereins, no. 46, year 1975, pages 51 - 72 (with many documents); here page 67, list of the fragments, in Latin original: Ex reliquiis desumptae sunt una tibia cum fibula illius sanctorum trium corporum, quod provectioris erat aetatis, una fibula, quae erat corporis aetatis mediae, et una vertebra colli, quae erat corporis aetatis iunioris. Quae reliquiae traditae sunt e.mo domino Antonio cardinali Fischer, archiepiscopo Coloniensi, pro basilica Eustorgiana Mediolanensi. ... Pro vera copia. Coloniae, die 28. mensis Augusti 1903. Antonius cardinalis Fischer, archiepiscopus; original-copy-document is located in Milan: Archivio Arcivescovile, Sacri Riti, Sez. VII, cart. 24. .
- ^ Latin original:
- "Temporibus domini Philippi episcopi, qui successit Reinoldo, fabricata est eis capsa ... sicut nobis narraverunt qui presentes erant eorum translationi ... " (Floss, Dreikoenigenbuch, 1864, pages 116-122 (Latin), original document in: The Hague, Dutch Royal Library, Cod.70 H.41; a copy in: MGH 25, Gesta episcoporum Leodiensium, pages 107-108, by Gilles of Orval, ca. 1250)
External links
- (in German) Ekkart Sauser (2000). Bautz, Traugott. ed. Eustorgios I.: heiliger Bischof von Mailand. ISBN 3-88309-080-8
- (in Italian) Santi e beati: Sant' Eustorgio I di Milano
- Very old stone-relief in St. Eustorgio: Bishop Eustorgius I brings relics of the Three Magi. He is behind the shrine and not to be seen in this photo.
- (in German) Eustorgius I, informations concerning the relics of the three kings