Ursinus of Bourges

Ursinus of Bourges (French Ursin, also Ours, the bear ', from Latin ursus, † in the 3rd century ) is considered the first bishop of Bourges (then Avaricum ). He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as a saint. His feast day is according to the martyrology of Ado of Vienne ( 799-875 ) November 9. In Bourges Remembrance Day is celebrated on December 29, but because Ursinus to have died, according to church records in Bourges at a December 29. According to tradition, was the original Ursinus of Bourges Cathedral building and the relics of St.. Stephen transferred there. One of the portals of the west facade of the cathedral of Bourges shows the life story of Ursinus.

Tradition

The hl. Martin (c. 316/317-397 ) continued the same ursinus with Nathanael († 1st century ). Based on the report of St.. Martin was in the 10th or 11th century, the life story of Ursinus ' written down. Gaspard de La Thaumas Thaumassière saw equating with Nathaniel in his 1689 work, written critical since a person can not be that old. He believed in an error in the text.

Gregory of Tours ( 538-594 ) writes the founding of the church of Bourges in his History of the Franks (Volume 1) a student of the seven bishops who sent the Pope in the reign of Decius ( 249-251 ) to Gaul. The bishops should evangelize. In the local interpretation of the seventh bishop was equated with Ursinus. In Liber in gloria confessorum Gregor wrote that Ursinus was the first bishop of Bourges.

As Ursinus arrived in the former Gallo-Roman Avaricum, he converted inhabitants to Christianity and baptized them. As the circle of believers advanced, he was expelled by throwing stones from the city. He was, according to legend in a neighboring town and built a chapel, which was later placed under his patronage. The town was named after him La Chapelle -Saint- Ursin (Cher ). However, Ursinus soon returned to Bourges and convinced the city council there Leocadius to convert a building for the new Christian community in a church. At the church, it was now the cathedral of Bourges. Ursinus to the relics of St.. Have brought with Stephen to Bourges, so the church was dedicated to Stephen.

Relics

His bones were found around 565 under Bishop Probianus and transferred to the church of Saint- Symphorien, which was consecrated then Ursinus. It is said to have acted at the Collegiate Church of Saint- Ursin, of which only the entrance portal is maintained. When the Normans invaded the Normandy in the 9th century, the relics were brought to safety in Cour -Saint -Maurice. At the later return parts of the relics remained there. 1055 the relics were transferred to the church of Saint -Jacques of Lisieux, to heal the population of St. Anthony's fire. On October 23, 1239 the relics were transferred again. Meanwhile, the relics are lost except for a few parts. After the French Revolution (1789-1799), about 1810, the collegiate church was destroyed.

Patrozinien

• The church of Saint - Ursin of Épron (Calvados )
• The church of Saint - Ursin of La Chapelle -Saint- Ursin
• The church of Saint - Ursin of the former municipality of Saint - Ursin, now Saint- Jean-des -Champs (Manche)
• The church of Saint - Ursin of Villers -sur -le- Roule