A charter, possibly authentic in its essentials, issued in the name of Bishop Palladius of Auxerre (central Gaul) records the bishop's foundation of a female monastery in the city's suburbs, with basilicas dedicated to *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033), *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288), *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), and oratories dedicated to *Ferreolus (martyr of Besançon, S00348) and *Martin (bishop and ascetic of Tours, ob. 397, S00050); it further outlines lighting provisions for this monastery and the episcopal church dedicated to *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030). Written in Latin in Gaul, possibly at Auxerre, 634 or 637.
E08425
Documentary texts - Charter or diploma
Documentary texts - Donation document
Quantin, Cartulaire général de l'Yonne, 4
Anno octavo regni domni Dagoberti regis, indictione septima, in nomine Dei omnipotentis Patris et Filii et Spiritus-Sancti. Palladius, quamvis peccator et fragilis, sanctae Autissiodorensis ecclesiae episcopus [...] Propterea cognoscat omnis [...] me cellam sive coenobium in suburbano Autissiodorensi contruxisse in basilicis tribus, id est domnae Mariae perpetuae virginis, et domni Andreae apostoli, et sancti Juliani martyris cum oratoria sancti Ferreoli et sancti Martini, annuente et consolante domno nostro Dagoberto piissimo rege: ordinavi et statui, qualiter ibi sanctimoniales puellae et viduae Domino deservire sinceriter debeant, deputans quasdam res ex ipsa ecclesia episcopatus Sancti-Stephani, quae mihi indigno commissus est [...] In pago Betorico tertiam partem agri quod vocatur Sissima, ad luminaria concinnanda; reliquas duas partes ad lumen ecclesiae senioris Sancti-Stephani reservatas [...]
'In the eighth year of the reign of King Dagobert, in the seventh indiction, in the name of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: Palladius, although weak and a sinner, bishop of the holy church of Auxerre ... Therefore let it be known to all ... that I have constructed a cell or monastery in the suburbs of Auxerre with three basilicas – that is, of the Lady Mary, perpetual virgin; Lord Andrew, the apostle; and Saint Julian, the martyr – together with an oratory of Saint Ferreolus and Saint Martin, with the approval and consolation of our lord Dagobert, the most pious king. I have ordered and stated that women religious and widows are to serve the Lord sincerely there, allotting to them certain properties from the episcopal church of Saint Stephen, which has been committed to my unworthy self ... (and) in the pagus of Bourges a third of the estate which is called Souesmes is to provide lighting; but the remaining two thirds are reserved for the lighting of Saint Stephen ...'
Text: Quantin 1854-60, i. 7-9.
Translation: B. Savill.
Cult building - monastic
Cult building - oratory
Cult building - independent (church)
Non Liturgical ActivityBequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Construction of cult buildings
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesWomen
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Cult Related ObjectsOil lamps/candles
Source
This charter only survives through a single copy of the 13th century. There are problems with the extant text, including its dating clause, but the essentials of its dispositive clause may be authentic (Picard 1992, 50, 62-3).Discussion
This text is at least partly corroborated by the Deeds of the Bishops of Auxerre (composed 873/5, with additions up to the end of the 10th century) which states that Palladius 'founded a monastery of Saint Julian the martyr, where he built another basilica in honour of Mary, the holy mother of God; this he established as a monastery for virgins ...' (Picard 1992, 63).Bibliography
EditionCartulaire général de l'Yonne, ed. M. Quantin, 2 vols (Auxerre, 1854-60).
Further reading
Picard, J.-C., "Auxerre," in: N. Gauthier and J.-Ch. Picard (eds.), Topographie chrétienne des cités de la Gaule des origines au milieu du VIIIe siècle, vol. 8: Province ecclésiastique de Sens (Lungdunensis Senonia) (Paris, 1992), 47-65.
Benjamin Savill
28/02/2023
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00030 | Stephen, the First Martyr | Stephanus | Certain | S00033 | Mary, Mother of Christ | Maria | Certain | S00035 | Julian, martyr of Brioude (southern Gaul) | Julianus | Certain | S00050 | Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397 | Martinus | Certain | S00288 | Andrew, the Apostle | Andreas | Certain | S00348 | Ferreolus and Ferrucio, martyrs of Besançon | Ferreolus | Certain |
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