Abbey of St. Symphorian, Autun

The Abbey of St. Symphorian, Autun (French: Abbaye Saint-Symphorien d'Autun), later a priory, is a former abbey of Benedictine monks located outside the walls of Autun in Burgundy, France.^[1][2]

History

The abbey is named after Saint Symphorianus of Autun, martyr of the 2nd century, and was erected by Saint Euphronius of Autun, bishop of Autun, in the 5th century; its existence is attested in 452. It was attached to the Abbey of St. Martin, Autun, in 910, and later became a priory.

The abbey was rebuilt in the 17th century. It was suppressed in the French Revolution and the surviving premises are now privately owned. It was listed as a monument historique in 1993 for its buildings and given classified status in 1994 for the perimeter wall.

Saint Germain of Paris (d. 576) was abbot here, as was Virgilius of Arles (d. October 610).

Saint Marius of Avenches, bishop of Lausanne in the 6th century, was from the region of Autun and was believed to have been educated here. Saint Eustace of Bourges (d. 607) trained here before becoming archdeacon of Autun and later Archbishop of Bourges.^[3]

Among the abbey's properties was the priory church of Saint-Symphorien in Champagne-en-Valromey (1055), in the deanery of Ceysserieu.^[4]

References

1. Jacques Gabriel Bulliot, Essai historique sur l'abbaye de Saint-Martin d'Autun de l'ordre de Saint-Benoît
2. André Déléage (1903-1944), Les anciens terriers de l'abbaye Saint-Symphorie-lès-Autun (1382-1452), in Annales de Bourgogne, 1933, vol. V. pp. 162–169
3. Les Petits Bollandistes, vol. X, p.248-254.
4. Régeste genevois n°205, p.57 & 461

Coordinates: 46°58′05″N 4°18′54″E / 46.9681°N 4.3150°E