11th century

Saint Marcian of Saignon

FOUNDER AND ABBOT OF SAINT-EUSÈBE, IN THE DIOCESE OF AVIGNON (1010).

Founder and Abbot of Saint-Eusèbe

Death
1010

Born in Saignon, Marcien dedicated his life to God after distributing his wealth to the poor. He founded the monastery of Saint-Eusèbe under the Rule of Saint Benedict and distinguished himself through his charity and miracles, notably the resurrection of a young man in Apt. He died of exhaustion on the road and his relics rest in the basilica of Apt.

Guided reading

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SAINT MARCIEN OF SAIGNON,

FOUNDER AND ABBOT OF SAINT-EUSÈBE, IN THE DIOCESE OF AVIGNON (1010).

Foundation 01 / 04

Origins and monastic foundation

Born in Saignon, Marcien distributed his goods to the poor before founding the monastery of Saint-Eusèbe under the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Marcien Marcien Abbot and founder of the monastery of Saint-Eusèbe in the 11th century. was born in Saig Saignon Birthplace and site of the foundation of the monastery of Marcian. non (Vaucluse, arrondissement and canton of Apt), in the diocese of Avignon, and was granted by God to the prayers of his pious parents, who immediately returned him to the Lord by consecrating him to Him. Having lost his father and mother while he was still very young, he sold his rich patrimony, distributed the money to the poor, and gave himself entirely to the contemplation of heavenly things. He built, largely with his own hands, on the territory of Saignon, a monastery which he placed under the invocation of Saint Eusèbe, then having gathered a few companions, he embraced the Rule of Saint Benedict. The church of Saint-Eusèbe was conse crated by Pope pape Urbain II Pope who preached the First Crusade. Urban II in 1096, and the monastery wa s granted to the abbot and monks o abbé et aux moines de Saint-Gilles Abbey to which the monastery of Marcien was granted in 1123. f Saint-Gilles in 1123.

Miracle 02 / 04

Life of prayer and miracle at Apt

Marcian leads a life of contemplation and begging for his monks, performing the resurrection of a young man in Apt.

Marcian was in the habit of going every week to the basilica of Apt, where he a basilique d'Apt Town in Provence where Delphine spent the end of her life and where her relics rest. ttended the holy Sacrifice with a spirit so entirely applied to God that he seemed enraptured out of himself. He would beg from door to door himself for the means to feed the religious of his monastery. One day, as he was going thus from house to house in the suburb of Apt, he resurrected, by the virtue of the sign of the cross, a young man who had just died, and restored him to his mother who was a widow.

Cult 03 / 04

Miraculous passing and burial

Exhausted by his quests, he dies under a rock; miraculous bells announce his passing and he is buried in Apt.

Another time, after having traveled throughout the city and the country houses scattered far around, as he was returning in excessive heat, laden with abundant provisions, the fruit of the alms he had collected, he was suddenly seized by a total exhaustion of his strength, and he nearly died suddenly in the middle of the main road. He withdrew under a hollow rock which is still called today the Rock of Saint Marcien, and fell asleep in the Lord there, d saint Marcien Abbot and founder of the monastery of Saint-Eusèbe in the 11th century. eprived of all human aid. His precious death was suddenly announced by the sound of bells that rang by themselves for three leagues around. The inhabitants of Saignon wanted to have the body of Saint Marcien, but he resisted all the efforts they made to transport him to his monastery; that is why he was carried to the basilica of Apt, where he is still surrounded today by great veneration.

Source 04 / 04

Source

Mention of the origin of the text in the Proper of the Diocese of Avignon.

Proper of Avignon.

Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.