Redon Abbey
The Abbey of Saint- Sauveur in Redon is a Carolingian monastery foundation in today's Ille -et -Vilaine, at the mouth of Oust in the Vilaine in the diocese of Vannes, on the border between Neustria and Brittany. Here, a local nobleman, Ratvili, the Conuvoion and his six companions had given a piece of land on a barren hill (locus Desertus ), towering over the estuary. This hill was, according to the founding legend also the seat of demons that stalked the monks and lay people with visions tempted to attack the monastery. The monastery followed the Rule of St. Benedict.
History
Conuvoion ( Conwoïon ) was of noble Breton descent and was educated at the Cathedral of Vannes. Bishop Raginarius had ordained him a deacon. He founded a monastery in Redon 832 and became its first Department of Charles the Bald, as well as Bishop of Nantes Raginarius initially refused to allow the new monastery his support, but it was the patronage of Nominoë, win the princeps Brittany. However, since 834 the monastery could also gain the favor of the Carolingians, 850 Charles II finally awarded him a diploma immunity and secured his protection. Also to the successor of Raginarius, Susannus of Nantes ( 838-848 ) relations seem to have been rather curious Conuvoion denounced him his way of life because of the Pope. Bishop Courant Gern ( 850-868 ) finally abandoned because of the Norman invasions officially on staff supervision over the monastery because it was too dangerous for the monks to travel overland to ordination to Vannes.
As the first level factor Ratuili ill, the monks could heal him, in gratitude he gave his son Liberius as Oblates to the monastery and gave this additional lands. The monastery also received numerous donations from local independent farmers ( machtierni ), which were of course often challenged by relatives. Also in the Frankish lands east of the Vilaine acquired the monastery gradually possession. This was complemented by targeted acquisitions. Some of the smaller monasteries seem to have assumed more or less voluntarily to the authority of Redon. 870 there were already 25 monks.
867 came Conuvoion his advanced age because of his position as abbot back and died a year later on January 5, 868 His successor was Ritcant ( 867-871 ). Under his rule had Redon, like the whole estuary of the Loire and the Vilaine to suffer from the Norman invasions, the church itself escaped the destruction of only about 852. The Normans, who had been run in two fleets in the Loire estuary, had taken refuge during a storm in the abandoned church and lit the altar candles. According to legend, fell to those of them who had drunk the communion wine, madness and died, while the rest were spared.
The Monks of Redon finally retreated to Auxerre 921 and 924 to Poitou back and could only return to their locus sanctus at the end of the 10th century.
The monastery was dissolved in the wake of the French Revolution in 1790.
Buildings
Two churches were built already Conwoïon in Redon, which were dedicated to Christ the Redeemer ( Sanctus Salvator ) and the Holy Madonna. The former church, built in Romanesque style, was consecrated on 28 October 832/833. The altar containing the relics of the Bishop of Angers, Hypothemius ( Apodemius ), had come into possession of Conuvoion by rather dubious methods. Later came through a gift from Pope Leo IV the remains of Marcellinus Angers added. Also relics of the Breton saints Melor were since 849 in Redon.
The monastery itself consisted of a dormitory, gatehouse, guest house, a hospice and a garden, in which the Holy Condeloc worked, who finished among others, a caterpillar plague through the invocation of the Holy Trinity. The monastery has also already possessed, which included several hundred documents at Conuvoions death an archive. Approx. 350 manuscripts from this period have been preserved, but it is certain that lost 1773-1856 were documents (Smith 2001, 373 ). 863 gave the princeps Salomon ( 857-874 ) to the monastery manor to manor Plélan where Conuvoion had also built a stone church. It contained the relics of St. Maxentius from Poitou.
The Church of St. Sauveur today still has a Romanesque tower and parts of the vestibule have survived. The nave with an octagonal dome has been expanded in the 12th century in the Gothic style, the chancel dates from the 13th century.
Abbots
- Conwoïon ( 832-867 )
- Ritcant ( 867-871 ).
- Almond (1062-1084)
Swell
- Gesta Sanctorum Rotonensium
- A. de Courson, Cartulaire de Redon (Paris 1863).
- Board Vita Conuuionis
- Annales Rotonensis to 919