GREGORY OF TOURS

Gregory is the great authority of those who think that the St. Denis of France is not identical with Dionysius the Areopagite. The authority is worthy of their critical acumen. Gregory collects the more obscure martyrdoms, in Gaul, under Nero, and subsequent Emperors. He gives several martyrdoms under Nero, and thus proves the Apostolic Evangelisation of Gaul. Gregory quotes, and misquotes, and misunderstands the ancient document, “Concerning seven men sent by St. Peter into Gaul,—in Gallias—to preach.” “Under Claudius—sub CLDIO—Peter the Apostle sent certain disciples into Gaul to preach,—they were, Trophimus, Paulus, Martial, Austremonius, Gatianus, Saturninus, Valerius, and many companions.”—These men were sent A.D. 42–43. Gregory omits Valerius, and inserts Dionysius—who was not converted to the Christian Faith till A.D. 44 or 49. Then Gregory misreads “Claudio” for “consulibus Decio,” and adds, “Grato” as the fellow-consul. Thus a disciple of the Apostles, sent by Clement, successor of Peter, arrives in Gaul A.D. 250, and the identical names of his companions recur miraculously in the third century. At the very time that Trophimus is thus supposed to have arrived at Aries, we have a letter from Cyprian, A.D. 254, urging Pope Stephen to depose Marcion, 15th or 18th Bishop of Aries from Trophimus. Such is the basis upon which our critical friends build their house upon the sand.