The Abbey of Saint-Germain d'Auxerre is a former

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

monastery in central France, dedicated to its founder Saint Germain of Auxerre, the

bishop of Auxerre The diocese of Auxerre ( la, dioecesis Antissiodorensis) is a former French Roman Catholic diocese. Its historical episcopal see was in the city of Auxerre in Burgundy (region), Burgundy, now part of eastern France. Currently the non-metropolitan ...

, who died in 448. It was founded on the site of an oratory built by Germanus in honor of Saint Maurice.

History

Bishop Germain was buried in the Oratory of

Saint Maurice Saint Maurice (also Moritz, Morris, or Mauritius; ) was an Egyptians, Egyptian military leader who headed the legendary Theban Legion of Roman Empire, Rome in the 3rd century, and is one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that Ma ...

, which he had built. About the year 500, it was rebuilt as a basilica, by Queen Clotilda, wife of Clovis, in honor of the bishop. The tomb was below the church, under the apse. A monastery was established that followed the Benedictine rule.''Historia Selebiensis Monasterii'', (Janet Burton, Lynda Lockyer, eds.), OUP Oxford, 2013, p. xxii
In 850 Abbot Conrad, brother-in-law of

Louis the Pious Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...

, had a crypt built. Attached to the crypt was a circular oratory. Conrad's nephew, Emperor

Charles the Bald Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a ...

, was present at the translation of the relics of Germanus. The abbey reached the apex of its cultural importance during the Carolingian era; the source for its early history is an account of the ''Miracula Sancti Germani Episcopi Autissiodorensis'' ("Miracles of Saint Germain, Bishop of Auxerre") written before ''ca''. 880. The earliest surviving architectural remains are also of the ninth century. The abbey had a noted school. From 876 to 883

Remigius of Auxerre Remigius (Remi) of Auxerre ( la, Remigius Autissiodorensis; c. 841 – 908) was a Benedictine monk during the Carolingian period, a teacher of Latin grammar, and a prolific author of commentaries on classical Greek and Latin texts. He is also acc ...

was master of the school. Later,

Thomas Becket Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then ...

studied there after completing his law courses in Bologna.Barlow
Becket, Thomas (1120?–1170)
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' Monk and chronicler,

Rodulfus Glaber Rodulfus, or Raoul Glaber (which means "the Smooth" or "the Bald") (985–1047), was an 11th-century Benedictine chronicler. Life Glaber was born in 985 in Burgundy. At the behest of his uncle, a monk at Saint-Léger-de-Champeaux, Glaber was se ...

, spent time at St Germain, where, he said, foreign monks were always accepted with respect. The abbey was twice reformed, first by

Majolus of Cluny Majolus of Cluny (Maieul, Mayeul, Mayeule) (c. 906 – May 11, 994) was the fourth Abbey of Cluny, abbot of Cluny. Majolus was very active in reforming individual communities of monks and canons; first, as a personal commission, requested and aut ...

and his disciple Heldric, at the request of

Henry I, Duke of Burgundy Henry I (946 – 15 October 1002), called the Great, was Duke of Burgundy from 965 to his death and Count of Nevers through his first marriage. He is sometimes known as Odo-Henry or Otto-Henry (in French ''Eudes-Henri''), since his birth name wa ...

, and in 1029 by the

Congregation of Saint Maur The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), a ...

.Goyau, Georges. "Sens." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 25 June 2019 A fire consumed much of the abbey in 1064; the Merovingian nave was rebuilt. In 1069, monks from St. Germain founded Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire. Napoleon turned the establishment into a hospital. In 1927, beneath the 17th-century frescoed plaster walls of the crypt, were discovered ninth-century wall frescoes, the only surviving large-scale paintings of their date in France to compare to the

illuminated manuscripts An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared document where the text is often supplemented with flourishes such as borders and miniature illustrations. Often used in the Roman Catholic Church for prayers, liturgical services and psalms, the ...

. During the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...

, several bays of the

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

were demolished and the secularized abbey was used as a hospital. The former nave extended beneath the present forecourt. In the late twentieth century the abbey's residential and service buildings were remodeled as a museum, presenting prehistoric,

Gallo-Roman Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...

and medieval finds from Auxerre. An exhibition in 1990 brought the abbey's cultural impact into focus. The former abbey church remains in use for worship at stated times.

Known abbots

Abbaye Saint-Germain d'Auxerre dans Monasticon Gallicanum

* ? - 622: Palladius of Auxerre * 800? - 840?: Saint Abbo, Bishop of Auxerre († December 3, 860) * 850? - †864:

Conrad I, Count of Auxerre Conrad I the Elder (died about 864) was the count of several counties, most notably the Aargau and Auxerre, around Lake Constance, as well as Paris from 859 to 862/864. He was also the lay abbot of Saint-Germaine in Auxerre. Conrad's father was ...

* .. - 886? : Abbot Hugh († May 12, 886) * 894-921: Richard Duke of Bourgogne11. ? -? : Heldric7,12 († 999), contemporary of St. Sévin

Bishop of Sens The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens and Auxerre (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Senonensis et Antissiodorensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Sens et Auxerre'') is a Latin Rite Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The Archdiocese compri ...

. * 986 - 1009: Heldric of Cluny * 1010-1020: Achard * 1020 - 1032: Theobold * 1032 - 1052: Odo of Auxerre * 1052 - 1064: Prior Boso * 1064 - 1074: Walter from

Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire (, literally ''Saint-Benoît on Loire'') is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Monastery This town hosts the '' Abbaye de Fleury'', also known as the ''Abbaye de Saint Benoît'' (Saint Benedict ...

* 1075 - 1085: Roland * 1085 - 1096: Guibert * 1096-1100: Robert * 1100-1115: Hugues de Montaigu, son of Dalmace Semur said Jeune14 approve this year a charter for the benefit of the Priory of Saint-Marcel Fleurey-sur-Ouche, signed by Duke Hugh II Bourgogne15. It will be bishop of Auxerre. * 1115 - 1148: Gervais * 1148 - 1174: Harduin * 1174 - 1188: Humbert * 1188 - 1208: Rudolph * 1st half of the thirteenth century: Renaud Jocenal (alive May 13, 1222) * 1285 - 1309: Guy Munois * 1309 - 1334: Left Dignon Chéu * 1334 - 1352: Étienne 1 Chitry * 1352 - 1362: William Grimoard, future

Pope Urban V Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the ...

Webster, Douglas Raymund. "Pope Bl. Urban V"
The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 25 June 2019 * 1362 - 1381: Stephen II Chitry * 1381 - 1408: Hugues V of Ballore * 1409 - 1422: John II of Nanton * 1422/1423 - 1453: Hervé de Lugny * 1453 - 1495: Hugues VI Tyard or Thiard * 1542: Louis Lorraine17 * 1731: Dom Leonardo Le Texier, Grand Prior (1731). * 1783: Dom Rosman

Notes

References

*Christian Sapin, ''La Bourgogne préromane'' (Paris, 1986), pp. 41–63 (on the early building project) *''Abbaye Saint-Germain d'Auxerre: intellectuels et artistes dans l'Europe carolingienne, IXe - XIe siecles'' (Auxerre, 1990) Exhibition catalogue. *''Auxerre et les prémices de l'art roman'' (Auxerre, 1999) Exhibition catalogue. *Noëlle Deflou-Leca, Saint-Germain d'Auxerre et ses dépendances (Ve-XIIIe siècle), PSE, 2010, p773. *Constance Britain-Bouchard, "Sword, Miter and Cloister", Cornell University Press 1987

External links

Culture.gouv.fr: Saint-Germain d'Auxerre

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auxerre, Saint-Germain d' Benedictine monasteries in France 5th-century establishments in sub-Roman Gaul 18th-century disestablishments in France Buildings and structures in Yonne

History

Known abbots

See also

Notes

References

External links