Île Saint-Honorat
Encyclopedia
The Île Saint-Honorat is the second largest of the Lérins Islands
, about a mile off shore from the French Riviera
town of Cannes
. The island is approximately 1.5 kilometers in length (East to West) and 400 meters wide.
Since the fifth century, the island has been home to a community of monk
s.
The island, known to the Romans as Lerina, was uninhabited until Saint Honoratus
founded a monastery on it at some time around the year 410. According to tradition, Honoratus made his home on the island intending to live as a hermit
, but found himself joined by disciple
s (including Saint Caprais (Caprasius) who formed a monastic community around him. This had become "an immense monastery" by 427, according to the contemporary writings of John Cassian.
The monastery provided three bishops for the See of Arles: Honoratus himself, followed by Hilarius and Cesarius in the fifth and sixth centuries, respectively. Reputedly, Saint Patrick
, patron of Ireland, studied at the monastery in the fifth century.
Over the following centuries, monastic life on the island was interrupted on several occasions by raids, mostly attributable to Saracens. Around 732, many of the community, including the abbot, Saint Porcarius
, were massacred on the island by invaders. According to tradition, many of the monks escaped, because Porcarius had been warned of the attack by an angel
and had sent them to safety.
In medieval times, the island became a very popular place of pilgrimage
. This was encouraged by the writings of Raymond Féraud, a monk who composed a mythological life of Honoratus.
In 1635, the island was captured by the Spanish
, and the monks were expelled. They returned from exile in Vallauris
two years later, in 1637, when the island was retaken by the French.
The monastery continued to suffer from Spanish and Genoese
attacks. The number of monks dwindled to four and, in the proto-revolutionary climate of the time, the monastery was disestablished in 1787. Under the Revolution
, the island became the property of the state, and was sold to a wealthy actress, Mademoiselle de Sainval, who lived there for twenty years.
In 1859, the island was bought by the Bishop of Fréjus
, who sought to re-establish a religious community there. Ten years later, a Cistercian community was established, which has remained there since.
. Points of interest include a number of disused chapels erected by monks on the island at different points in history, as well as the remains of a Napoleonic
cannon ball oven and a Second World War gun emplacement.
The Abbey of Lérins and the 15th Century fortified monastery are open to visitors, and a monastery shop sells various monastic goods, including wine and honey produced on the island. The modern monastery is closed to visitors, although it is used as a Christian retreat.
The island is served all year round by a regular commercial ferry
service from Cannes. Modest dress is required for visitors and smoking on the island is not permitted.
Lérins Islands
The Lérins Islands are a group of four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, near Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are the Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat...
, about a mile off shore from the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
town of Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
. The island is approximately 1.5 kilometers in length (East to West) and 400 meters wide.
Since the fifth century, the island has been home to a community of monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s.
History
Honoratus
Saint Honoratus was Archbishop of Arles.There is some disagreement concerning his place of birth, and the date of his death is still disputed, being according to certain authors, January 14 or January 15. It is believed that he was born in the north of Gaul and that he belonged to an illustrious...
founded a monastery on it at some time around the year 410. According to tradition, Honoratus made his home on the island intending to live as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
, but found himself joined by disciple
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
s (including Saint Caprais (Caprasius) who formed a monastic community around him. This had become "an immense monastery" by 427, according to the contemporary writings of John Cassian.
The monastery provided three bishops for the See of Arles: Honoratus himself, followed by Hilarius and Cesarius in the fifth and sixth centuries, respectively. Reputedly, Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, patron of Ireland, studied at the monastery in the fifth century.
Over the following centuries, monastic life on the island was interrupted on several occasions by raids, mostly attributable to Saracens. Around 732, many of the community, including the abbot, Saint Porcarius
Saint Porcarius
Saint Porcarius , known as Saint-Porchaire in French, was a Benedictine monk, governed the abbey of Lérins, off the coast of the French Riviera, at a time when the monastery included over 500 residents.According to tradition, around the year 732, Porcarius was warned by an...
, were massacred on the island by invaders. According to tradition, many of the monks escaped, because Porcarius had been warned of the attack by an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
and had sent them to safety.
In medieval times, the island became a very popular place of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
. This was encouraged by the writings of Raymond Féraud, a monk who composed a mythological life of Honoratus.
In 1635, the island was captured by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and the monks were expelled. They returned from exile in Vallauris
Vallauris
Vallauris is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is located in the metropolitan area of Sophia-Antipolis, and is today effectively an extension of the town of Antibes, bordering it on its west side.-Population:-Culture:In...
two years later, in 1637, when the island was retaken by the French.
The monastery continued to suffer from Spanish and Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
attacks. The number of monks dwindled to four and, in the proto-revolutionary climate of the time, the monastery was disestablished in 1787. Under the Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the island became the property of the state, and was sold to a wealthy actress, Mademoiselle de Sainval, who lived there for twenty years.
In 1859, the island was bought by the Bishop of Fréjus
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
, who sought to re-establish a religious community there. Ten years later, a Cistercian community was established, which has remained there since.
Present
The island retains a monastery, which is home to 30 Cistercian monks, and is a popular tourist attraction offering pleasant woodland surroundings, in common with its neighbour the Île Sainte-MargueriteÎle Sainte-Marguerite
The Île Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of the Lérins Islands, about half a mile off shore from the French Riviera town of Cannes. The island is approximately 3km in length and 900m across....
. Points of interest include a number of disused chapels erected by monks on the island at different points in history, as well as the remains of a Napoleonic
Napoleonic Era
The Napoleonic Era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory...
cannon ball oven and a Second World War gun emplacement.
The Abbey of Lérins and the 15th Century fortified monastery are open to visitors, and a monastery shop sells various monastic goods, including wine and honey produced on the island. The modern monastery is closed to visitors, although it is used as a Christian retreat.
The island is served all year round by a regular commercial ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service from Cannes. Modest dress is required for visitors and smoking on the island is not permitted.