Elected Archbishop of Sens in 968, Anastasius was a virtuous, building-focused prelate who laid the foundations of the current cathedral. He worked to redeem the Church's assets dissipated by his predecessor and died in 977 before the completion of his works.
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SAINT ANASTASIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF SENS (977).
Election and beginning of the episcopate
Elected unanimously in 968, Anastasius succeeded Archambaud and distinguished himself by his virtues and pastoral talent.
Son of the lord of Angers, near Provins, Ana stasius Anastase Archbishop of Sens from 968 to 977, builder of the cathedral. was elected by a unanimous vote to the archbis hopr Sens Archiepiscopal see occupied by Saint Aldric. ic of Sens, and consecrated by his suffragans on December 14, 968; he took possession of his see a few days later. A man full of virtues and talents, he showed himself worthy of bearing the archiepiscopal crosier, and made people forget the dark days of his predecessor. He began the restoration of the church of Saint-Pierre, re called the Archambaud Predecessor of Anastasius, criticized for his administration and dissipated life. religious whom Archambaud had expelled, and built as many holy places as the latter had destroyed or profaned. It was he who laid the foundations of the current fondements de la cathédrale actuelle Major edifice whose foundations were laid by Anastasius. cathedral; he himself drew the plan of this edifice, except for that of the crossing which dates from the 13th century. He arranged the three chapels in the order in which they were placed before, that Saint-Étienne Major edifice whose foundations were laid by Anastasius. is to say, Saint-Étienne in the middle, that of the Blessed Virgin on the right, and that of Saint-Jean on the left. He led the choir up to the capital of the gables, but death, which struck him on January 8, 977, stopped him in the execution of his pious designs.
The architectural work
Anastasius undertook the restoration of the church of Saint-Pierre and laid the foundations of the current cathedral of Sens, for which he drew the plans.
Anastasius had repurchased the greater part of the church property tha t Archamba Archambaud Predecessor of Anastasius, criticized for his administration and dissipated life. ud, his predecessor, had given as rewards to the companions of his dissipated life and his military exploits. Inexhaustible in alms, when this holy bishop had seen the end of the resources provided by his economy, his privations, and his abstinence, he solicited from kings, princes, and the faithful the aid he needed to cover the costs of the immense constructions he had undertaken. Finally, he gave all his property to endow the canons of Notre-Dame and Saint-Jean, whose chapels were built and finished before chanoines de Notre-Dame et de Saint-Jean Beneficiaries of the personal property of Anastasius. Saint-Étienne.
Restoration of property and charity
The archbishop repurchased the property despoiled by his predecessor and financed his major works through his personal frugality and by appealing to the generosity of the powerful.
Anastasius had repurchased the greater part of the church property that Archambaud, his predecessor, had given as rewards to the companions of his dissipated life and his military exploits. Inexhaustible in almsgiving, when this holy bishop had seen the end of the resources provided by his frugality, his privations, and his abstinence, he would solicit from kings, princes, and the faithful the aid he needed to cover the costs of the immense constructions he had undertaken. Finally, he gave all his property to endow the canons of Notre-Dame and Saint-Jean, whose chapels were built and completed before Saint-Étienne.
Final legacy and death
After endowing the canons with his own property, Anastasius died in 977 before he could complete all of his construction projects.
Son of the lord of Angers, near Provins, Anastasius was elected by a unanimous vote to the archbishopric of Sens, and consecrated by his suffragans on December 14, 968; he took possession of his see a few days later. A man full of virtues and talents, he showed himself worthy of bearing the archiepiscopal crosier, and made people forget the dark days of his predecessor. He began the restoration of the church of Saint-Pierre, recalled the religious whom Archambaud had expelled, and built as many holy places as the latter had destroyed or profaned. It was he who laid the foundations of the current cathedral; he himself drew the plan for this edifice, except for the crossing which dates from the 13th century. He arranged the three chapels in the order in which they were placed before, that is to say, Saint-Étienne in the middle, that of the Blessed Virgin on the right, and that of Saint-Jean on the left. He led the choir up to the capital of the gables, but death, which struck him on January 8, 977, stopped him in the execution of his pious designs.
Anastasius had bought back the greater part of the church property that Archambaud, his predecessor, had given as a reward to the companions of his dissipated life and his military exploits. Inexhaustible in alms, when this holy bishop had seen the end of the resources provided to him by his economy, his deprivations, and his abstinence, he solicited from kings, princes, and the faithful the help he needed to meet the costs of the immense constructions he had undertaken. Finally, he gave all his property to endow the canons of Notre-Dame and Saint-Jean, whose chapels were built and finished before Saint-Étienne.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election to the Archbishopric of Sens
- Consecrated on December 14, 968
- Restoration of Saint-Pierre church
- Foundation of the current cathedral of Sens
- Redemption of church property dissipated by his predecessor