Taurinus of Évreux (died ca. 410), also known as Taurin, is venerated as a
saint
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and Christian denomination, denominat ...
His largely legendary life is known through a manuscript of the 10th century, itself based on a ninth-century text. The legendary life was written by a monk named Deodatus, who added details according to the standard passiones of the time, mixing factual information with wonderful stories.Herrick, Samantha Kahn. ''Imagining the sacred past : hagiography and power in early Normandy'' Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2007. p. 51 et seq. The garbling of dates and traditions thus ensures that it is impossible to date the time of Taurinus' episcopacy, although scholars usually place it at the beginning of the fourth or in the middle of the fifth century.
Taurinus was born in Rome to Tarquinius, a heathen, and Eustycia (Eusticie, Euticia), a devout Christian. An angel appeared to Eustycia to announce that her son would have a great destiny. He was baptized by
Pope Clement I
Pope Clement I ( la, Clemens Romanus; Greek: grc, Κλήμης Ῥώμης, Klēmēs Rōmēs) ( – 99 AD) was bishop of Rome in the late first century AD. He is listed by Irenaeus and Tertullian as the bishop of Rome, holding office from 88 AD t ...
Denis
Denis may refer to:
People
* Saint Denis of Paris, 3rd-century Christian martyr and first bishop of Paris
* Denis the Areopagite, Biblical figure
* Denis, son of Ampud (died 1236), baron in the Kingdom of Hungary
* Denis the Carthusian (1402–14 ...
, first
bishop of Paris
The Archdiocese of Paris (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Parisiensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Paris'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is one of twenty-three archdioceses in France ...
), who was considered one of the first disciples of Paul, was his godfather. According to
Louis Duchesne
Louis Marie Olivier Duchesne (; 13 September 1843 – 21 April 1922) was a French priest, philologist, teacher and a critical historian of Christianity and Roman Catholic liturgy and institutions.
Life
Descended from a family of Breton sailors, ...
this legend arose about the ninth century, when Abbot
Hilduin
Hilduin (c. 785 – c. 855) was Bishop of Paris, chaplain to Louis I, reforming Abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, and author. He was one of the leading scholars and administrators of the Carolingian Empire.
Background
Hilduin was from a pr ...
of Saint-Denis was intent on proving the identity of Dionysius the Areopagite with Dionysius (Denis), first Bishop of Paris.Goyau, Georges. "Evreux." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 17 April 2020 Thus, the legend assured that there was an "apostolic succession" from Paul directly to the episcopate of Évreux.
Taurinus became bishop of Evreux around 385. His legend states that Taurinus faced a
demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...
at Évreux that took three shapes: that of a
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
, a
bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...
and a buffalo. These metamorphoses either represented various
deadly sins Deadly Sins may refer to:
*Seven deadly sins
The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, is a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings. Although they are not directly mentioned in the Bibl ...
, or represented the official Roman religion (lion), the worship of
Diana
Diana most commonly refers to:
* Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon
* Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...
(bear), and the local agrarian-based religions (the buffalo). According to
Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis ( la, Ordericus Vitalis; 16 February 1075 – ) was an English chronicler and Benedictine monk who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th- and 12th-century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. Modern historia ...
in his ''Historia Ecclesiastica'', Taurinus expelled the demon from the local temple of Diana, and when it obeyed his order to break its own idols it was not immediately cast into
the Pit
The Pit may refer to:
Places
* The Pit, a commonly used name for a mosh pit
* The Pit (arena), the main indoor arena at the University of New Mexico
* The Pit (memorial), "Яма" the Holocaust memorial in Minsk, Belarus
* Elder 'The Pit' Stadiu ...
, but was instead punished by remaining in the place where it had ruled while seeing the people it had tormented saved. He reported that it was known by the local people as
Gobelinus
Person Gobelinus (1358 – 17 November 1421) was a historian from Westphalia and a reformer of monastic life in his native land.
Life
He came from either Paderborn or the nearby area, and received his first schooling in that city. As a young man ...
, and still haunted Évreux, appearing in various shapes, but hurt no-one. Taurinus then converted the local pagan temple into a church, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary. Two priests of the goddess, Cambise and Zara, had attempted to stop Taurinus from entering the temple, but they were immobilized after the bishop made the
sign of the cross
Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...
. They then asked to be converted to Christianity.
A number of miracles were associated with Taurinus. His legend states that he raised a girl, Euphrasia, from the dead after she died in a fire. After he had done so, there was no trace of burn marks on her. Taurinus’ miracle led to 120 converts. Taurinus also brought back to life Marinus, the son of the local prefect, who had fallen into a hole and died from the impact. After a short prayer, Taurinus revived the young man. At once, Marinus requested baptism for himself and his entourage, and 1200 other people.
After Taurinus' death,
Maximus of Evreux
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...
was sent by Pope Damasus I to continue his predecessor's work.
Veneration
A monastery dedicated to Taurinus was built around the sixth century; it was restored in the tenth century at the instigation of Richard I of Normandy.
Bishop Landulphus is credited with having discovered, in answer to fervent prayer, the relics of Taurinus; he built a basilica in the Taurinus's honour. Taurinus' relics were translated to various places. In 892, Bishop Sebarius (Sébar) transferred some of his relics to
Lezoux
Lezoux (; oc, Lesós) is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. It was a key location in the filming of the 2004 film Les Choristes (The Chorus).
Population
See also
*Communes of the Puy-de-Dôme department ...
Pézy
Pézy () is a former commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the commune of Theuville.Chartres Cathedral.
In 1035, the abbey of Saint-Taurin was placed under the jurisdiction of the Abbey of Fécamp, which also claimed the body of Taurinus. The monks of Saint-Taurin claimed that they owned a part of the saint's relics. In 1247, Gislebert de Saint-Martin, abbot of Saint-Taurin, had a reliquary (see gallery) built to house the remaining relics.
Taurinus is the patron saint of the Diocese of Evreux.
Notes
Image:Chasse saint taurin1.jpg
Image:Chasse saint taurin2.jpg
Image:Chasse saint taurin3.jpg
Image:Eglise-st-taurin.jpg, The Church of Saint-Taurin, Évreux