Saint Flavius of Chalon-sur-Saône

After the death of Saint Agricola in 580, the clergy and the people of Ch Châlon Site of the saint's martyrdom. alon elected the pious chancellor as bishop. It was thought that his talents for administration and his habit of dealing with important affairs would facilitate his exercise of the pastoral office. The King of Burgundy consented, happy to see a bishop chosen from among his principal officers. The historians of the time praise the eloquence of Flavius, strong and gentle, equally powerful in striking down vice and charming hearts with the attractions of virtue. This pious bishop attended the first two councils of Mâcon, in 581 and 585, the third of Lyon, in 583, and the second of Valence, in 584. We also see him attending at Nemours, Nemptodurum, the bapt ism of the you jeune Clotaire King of Neustria and later sole King of the Franks, protector of Columbanus after his exile. ng Clotaire, son of Fredegund, with Altherina of Lyon and Saint Syag saint Syagre d'Autun Bishop of Autun who oversaw the education of Aunarius. rius of Autun.

Saint Flavius founded or at least restored the Abbey of Saint-Pie abbaye de Saint-Pierre Monastery founded or restored by Flavius in 584. rre in 584. As this monastery holds a significant place in the annals of Chalon, it is appropriate to briefly retrace its history. The Abbey of Saint-Pierre was situated on an eminence to the north of the city, in a place where a holy hermit had erected an oratory near the public cemetery. Destroyed by the Saracens, Bishop Gilbold restored it in 887, under the Rule of Saint Benedict, and chose it as his burial place and that of the canons. It was heavily damaged by fire from the sky on August 29, 905. Rich and superb in its buildings, it was like a fortress surrounded by walls and moats. The Abbot of Saint-Pierre had received from Clement V the right to carry the crozier and the mitre. The bishops of Chalon, upon their first entry, were hosted at the abbey for a day and a night; but the abbot obliged them to swear to the preservation of the monastery's privileges and exemptions.

Pillaged by the Calvinists in 1562, it was, the following year, turned into a citadel by order of Charles IX. The dispersed monks, having refused the Château de Germoles for fear of being insulted there by the Huguenots, gathered at the Commandery of Saint-Antoine, the house of which was awarded to them by the king. But upon the opposition of the Antonines, they withdrew to the Carmelites. After having attempted in vain to unite with the Chapter of Saint-Vincent, they built a church which was consecrated by Pontus de Thyard.

This abbey was united to the Congregation of Saint-Maur in 1662, under Abbot Claude Esplard. All the religious were noble; they had their novitiate at Chapèze. The Benedictines, in 1692, laid the foundations of a new basilica, dedicated on August 29, 1713, by Mgr François Madot. It serves today as a parish church.

Saint Flavius died before the end of the 6th century and was buried in the church of Saint-Pierre. Exhumed by Bishop Gilbold, he was canonized by John V III in 87 Jean VIII Sovereign pontiff who crowned Richardis and Charles the Fat. 9. His head, which was kept at the abbey in a silver reliquary, was profaned and looted by the Huguenots. These wretched iconoclasts also took the head of Saint Loup, which has since been recovered, ten magnificent shrines containing the holy bodies, and the statues of Our Lady, Saint John the Baptist, Saint James, and Saint Loup, which were placed on the pillars supporting the vault of the choir and were all covered in fine gold and azure.

In several ancient missals of France, and in some manuscript or printed missals of Autun dating from before the 17th century, one finds a hymn composed by Saint Flavius of Chalon for the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday. A very ancient customary of the c hurch of Cluny église de Cluny Major Benedictine abbey of which Peter was the abbot. affirms that Saint Flavius is indeed the author of this interesting piece which begins with these words: Tel lus et mitra jubilant In Tellus et mitra jubilant Hymn composed by Flavius for the washing of the feet. magni cœna principis. The Supper of the great King fills the heavens and the earth with joy... This hymn surrounds the evangelical event with some poetic embellishments, which faith and piety easily explain. — On one of the capitals of Saint-Lazare, as in this hymn, Jesus Christ, washing the feet of Saint Peter, is represented assisted by angels. Note by M. Devouroux; Legendary of Autun.