The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: ''Archidioecesis Bituricensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Bourges'') is an

archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

of the

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church ''sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language once ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The Archdiocese comprises the

departements A department (, ) is an administrative division, administrative or political division in several countries. Departments are the first-level divisions of 11 countries, nine in the Americas and two in Africa. An additional 10 countries use departm ...

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

and

Indre Indre (; oc, Endre) is a landlocked department in central France named after the river Indre. The inhabitants of the department are known as the ''Indriens'' (masculine; ) and ''Indriennes'' (feminine; ). Indre is part of the current administ ...

in the

Region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

of Val de Loire.

Bourges Cathedral Bourges Cathedral (French language, French: ''Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges'') is a Roman Catholic church architecture, church located in Bourges, France. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Stephen and is the seat of the Archbishop of Bou ...

stands in the city of

Bourges Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry. History The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, t ...

in the

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

. Although this is still titled as an Archdiocese, it ceased as a metropolitan see in 2002 and is now a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of Tours. In 2002 it lost its metropolitan function (and thus the archbishop no longer wears the

pallium The pallium (derived from the Roman ''pallium'' or ''palla'', a woolen cloak; : ''pallia'') is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the pope, but for many centuries bestowed by the Holy See upon metropolit ...

), its province having ceased to exist (the province had already been substantially modified from the late Roman province of

Aquitania Prima Gallia Aquitania ( , ), also known as Aquitaine or Aquitaine Gaul, was a province of the Roman Empire. It lies in present-day southwest France, where it gives its name to the modern region of Aquitaine. It was bordered by the provinces of Gallia ...

with which it had initially corresponded -

Albi Albi (; oc, Albi ) is a commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn department, on the river Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ''Albigensians'' (french: Albigeois, Albigeoise(s), oc, albig� ...

had been erected as an archbishopric in the medieval context of heresiological conflict;

Orléans Orléans (;"Orleans"
(US) and Chartres Chartres () is the prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir department in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 170,763 inhabitants in the metropolitan area of Chartres (as d ...

and

Blois Blois ( ; ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France, on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours. With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the ...

- historically dependent on

Sens Sens () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yonne Departments of France, department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, 120 km from Paris. Sens is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture and the second city of the d ...

- had been attached to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

, from which they passed to Bourges in the 1960s). The Archdiocese (also the three above- mentioned sees) is now suffragan to the Archdiocese of Tours; other dioceses until recently dependent on Bourges are now suffragans of the Clermont-Ferrand Archdiocese. Historical ecclesiastical geography has here thus changed to correspond with France's new regions, much as diocesan and provincial boundaries from

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

Concordat of 1801 The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801 in Paris. It remained in effect until 1905, except in Alsace-Lorraine, where it remains in force. It sought national reconciliation b ...

onwards changed mainly in accordance with those of 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 ...

's ''départements''.

History

The diocese was founded in the 3rd century. Its first bishop was St.

Ursinus of Bourges Saint Ursinus of Bourges (french: Ursin) (3rd or 4th century) is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and is considered the first bishop of Bourges. Gregory of Tours' legendary account associated him with a Nathaniel, friend of Philip the ...

. In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

there was a dispute between the bishop of Bourges and the

bishop of Bordeaux The Archdiocese of Bordeaux (–Bazas) (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Burdigalensis (–Bazensis)''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Bordeaux (–Bazas)''; Occitan: ''Archidiocèsi de Bordèu (–Vasats)'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or a ...

about the primacy of

Aquitaine Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 January ...

. Bourges was the place of many synods. The synods 1225 and 1226 are the most important and dealt with the

Albigenses Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follo ...

Bishops of Bourges

To 600

* St. Ursinus of Bourges (3rd century) * Sevitianus * Aetherius * Thecretus * Marcellus (all prior to 337) * Saint Viateur (''Viator'') 337–354 '' Philippe Labbe, '' Patriarchium Bituricense'' dans '' Novae Bibliothecae Mss'' Librorum, t.II * : Leothère 354–363 * : Pauper 363–377 * Palladius (377–384) * : Villice 384–412 * : Avit 412–431 * : Saint Pallais II 448–462 * Leo (453) * Euloge 462–469 * Simplicius (472–480) * Saint Tétrade 494–506 * Rorice 512–? * ?–? : Siagre * ?–? : Saint Humat : ?–? * Honoratus of Bourges (pres.

Council of Clermont (535) The Council of Clermont (''Concilium Arvernense'') of 535 was one of the early Frankish synods. Held at '' Arvernum'', (the later Clermont, conquered by Clovis I in 507), it was attended by fifteen prelates of the kingdom of Austrasia under t ...

) 533–535 * Saint Honoré II 535–537 * Saint Arcade 537–549 * Saint Désiré (549–552) * Saint Probien 552–559 * Saint Félix 560–573 * Remedius (all in the second half of the sixth century) *

Sulpitius I of Bourges Sulpitius I (died 591) was Bishop of Bourges. Often called Sulpitius Severus, the Severe, he is wrongly identified with Sulpicius Severus, the historian of Saint Martin of Tours. He was raised to the see in 584. He was, says Gregory of Tours, a ...

(584–591) *

Saint Eustase Eustache also known as Eustace or Eustase of Bourges or Autun where he originated, was a 6th-century priest who became bishop of Bourges. He trained at the Abbey of Saint-Symphorien, Autun. Eustache first became deacon and archdeacon of Autun, w ...

591–591 * Saint Apollinaire 591 – † 5 octobre 611

From 600 to 1000

Austregisilus Saint Austregisilus (Outril(le), Aoustrille) (died 624) was bishop of Bourges from 612 to 624. His feast day is 20 May. Life A native of Bourges, he was educated as a courtier, he became an attendant at the Court of King Gontram at Chalon-sur-Sa ...

(612–624) *

Sulpicius II. of Bourges Sulpitius (or Sulpicius) the Pious (; died 17 January 644) was a 7th-century bishop of Bourges and saint. Life According to his ''Vita'', Sulpitius was born at Vatan (Diocese of Bourges), of noble parents, before the end of the sixth centur ...

(624–644) * Saint Florent (647–660) * Adon (662–680) * Agosène (682–683) * Roch (696–736) * Sigin (736–761) * Landoaire (761–764) * Dédoat (764–780) * Ségolène (780–785) * David (793–802) * Bertholan (815–827) * Agilulfus (c. 829–840) *

Raoul of Turenne Rodulf (french: Saint Raoul; died 21 June 866) was the archbishop of Bourges from 840 until his death. He is remembered as a skillful diplomat and a proponent of ecclesiastical reform. As a saint, his feast has been celebrated on 21 June. Aquitai ...

(840–866) *

Wulfad Wulfad (died 876) was the archbishop of Bourges from 866 until his death. Prior to that, he was the abbot of Montier-en-Der Abbey, Montier-en-Der (from 856) and Abbey of St. Medard, Soissons, Soissons (from 858). He also served as a tutor to Carlom ...

(866–876) * Frotharius (876–c. 893) * Adace (890–900) * Madalbert (900–910) * Saint Géronce de Déols (910–948) * Laune de Déols (948–955) * Richard de Blois (955–969) *

Hugh of Blois Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

(969–985) * Dagbert (987–1013)

From 1000 to 1300

* Gauzlin Capet (1013–1030) :... *

Alberich of Reims Alberich of Reims ( 1085 – 1141) was a scholar who studied under Anselm of Laon and later became an opponent of Peter Abelard. He was originally from Reims, but moved to nearby Laon to study under Anselm and his brother Ralph. When Anselm died ...

(1136–1141) * Henry de Sully (d. 1200) *

William of Donjeon Guillaume de Donjeon (c. 1140 – 10 January 1209) was a French Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Bourges from 1200 until his death. He served as a canon in Soissons and Paris before he entered the Order of Grandmont. Someti ...

(1200–09) * Girard de Cros 1209–1218 * Simon de Sully 1218–1232 *

Philippe Berruyer Philip Berruyer (died 1260 of natural causes) was bishop of Orléans in 1234, and then archbishop of Bourges from 1236 until his death. He was responsible for overseeing much of the building work on Bourges Cathedral, though the identity of the arc ...

1232–1260 * Jean de Sully 1260–1271 * Guy de Sully 1276–1280 *

Simon de Beaulieu Simon de Beaulieu (born at the Chateau de Beaulieu in Brie, at a date unknown; died in Orvieto, 18 August 1297) was a French bishop and Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was the son of Guy, Sieur de Beaulieu and of Agnes. Simon's brother, Jean, was Abb ...

1281–1294 *

Gilles de Rome Giles of Rome O.S.A. (Latin: ''Aegidius Romanus''; Italian: ''Egidio Colonna''; c. 1243 – 22 December 1316), was a Medieval philosopher and Scholastic theologian and a friar of the Order of St Augustine, who was also appointed to the po ...

1295–1316

1300 to 1600

Renault de la Porte Regnaud de La Porte (Raynaud) (died 1325) was a French bishop and Cardinal. He was born in Allassac. He became bishop of Limoges in 1294, and archbishop of Bourges in 1316. He was a papal commissioner enquiring into the Knights Templar, 1309 ...

1316–1320 * Guillaume de Brosse 1321–1331 * Foucaud de Rochechouard 1331–1343 * Blessed

Roger le Fort Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ...

1343–1367 * Pierre d'Estaing 1367–1370 * Pierre de Cros 1370–1374, became

Archbishop of Arles The former French Catholic Archbishopric of Arles had its episcopal see in the city of Arles, in southern France.Jean de Rochechouart Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

1382–1390 * Pierre Aimery 1391–1409 * Guillaume de Boisratier 1409–1421 * Henry d'Avangour 1421–1446 * Jean Coeur 1446–1483 * Pierre Cadoüet 1483–1492 * Guillaume de Cambray 1492–1505 *

Michel de Bucy Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), ...

1505–1511 *

Andrew Forman Andrew Forman (11 March 1521) was a Scottish people, Scottish diplomat and prelate who became Bishop of Moray in 1501, Archbishop of Bourges in France, in 1513, Archbishop of St Andrews in 1514 as well as being Commendator of several monasteries ...

1513 *

François de Tournon François de Tournon (1489 in Tournon-sur-Rhône – 1562 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a French Augustinian monk, an archbishop, diplomat, courtier, and cardinal. From 1536 he was also a military supply officer of French forces operating i ...

1526-1537 (elevated to Cardinal in 1530) * Renaud de Beaune 1581

1600 to present

* André Fremiot, 1602–1621 *

Michel Phélypeaux de La Vrillière Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), ...

, 1677–1694Entry 394
in ''Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothèques publiques de France'', vol. 4, p. 94. Paris: Plon, 1886 (at Google Books). Michel Phélypeaux de La Vrillière (1642–1694)
VIAF
* Georges-Louis Phélypeaux d'Herbault, 1757–1787 * Jean-Antoine-Auguste de Chastenet de Puységur (1788–1802) * Marie-Charles-Isidore de Mercy (1802–1811) * Étienne-Jean-Baptiste-Louis des Gallois de La Tour (1817–1820) *

Jean-Marie Cliquet de Fontenay Jean-Marie is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: * Jean-Marie Abgrall (born 1950), a French psychiatrist, criminologist, specialist in forensic medicine, cult expert, and graduate in criminal law * Jean-Marie C ...

(1820–1834) * Guillaume-Aubin de Villèle (1825–1841) * Jacques-Marie-Antoine-Célestin du Pont (1842–1859) * Alexis-Basile-Alexandre Menjaud (1859–1861) * Charles-Amable de la Tour d'Auvergne Lauraguais (1861–1879) * Jean-Joseph Marchal (1880–1892) *

Jean-Pierre Boyer Jean-Pierre Boyer (15 February 1776 – 9 July 1850) was one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution, and President of Haiti from 1818 to 1843. He reunited the north and south of the country into the Republic of Haiti in 1820 and also annex ...

(1893–1896) *

Pierre-Paul Servonnet Pierre-Paul may refer to: Places * Lac Pierre-Paul (Mékinac), part of the Batiscanie watershed, in Quebec, Canada * Pierre-Paul River, part of the Batiscanie watershed, in Quebec, Canada People * Pierre-Paul (name) See also * * * Peter P ...

(1897–1909) *

Louis-Ernest Dubois Louis-Ernest Dubois (1 September 1856 – 23 September 1929) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Paris. He played a leading role in the period of adjustment to the separation of Church and State in France. Early life He was born ...

(1909–1916), appointed Archbishop of Rouen (Cardinal later that year) * Martin-Jérôme Izart (1916–1934) * Louis-Joseph Fillon (1934–1943) *

Joseph-Charles Lefèbvre Joseph-Charles Lefèbvre (commonly Joseph Lefèbvre, 15 April 1892—2 April 1973) was a French cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Bourges from 1943 to 1969 and was made a cardinal in 1960. He was the cousin o ...

(1943–1969) (Cardinal in 1960) * Charles-Marie-Paul Vignancour (1969–1984) * Pierre Marie Léon Augustin Plateau (1984–2000) *

Hubert Barbier Hubert is a Germanic masculine given name, from ''hug'' "mind" and ''beraht'' "bright". It also occurs as a surname. Saint Hubertus or Hubert (c. 656 – 30 May 727) is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers. ...

(2000–2007) *

Armand Maillard Armand Maillard, born 18 June 1943 in Offroicourt (Vosges (department), Vosges), is the recent France, French Roman Catholic Church, Catholic church archbishop, of the diocese of Bourges. He was appointed to that position by Pope Benedict XVI on 11 ...

(2007–2018) * Jérôme Daniel Beau (25 July 2018– )

References

Bibliography

Reference works

* (Use with caution; obsolete) * (in Latin) * (in Latin) * * * *

Studies

* * *

External links

* Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France
''L'Épiscopat francais depuis 1919''
retrieved: 2016-12-24.

Lists of Bishops and Archbishops
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bourges, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Roman Catholic dioceses in France Dioceses established in the 3rd century 3rd-century establishments in Roman Gaul