A Lorraine nobleman and soldier at the court of the kings of France, Lothaire became a hermit after the death of his wife Tarcote. Having become Bishop of Séez by popular acclamation, he governed his diocese with wisdom before ending his days in the solitude of his hermitage in 756.
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SAINT LOTHAIRE OR LOYER, BISHOP OF SÉEZ (756).
Origins and conversion
Coming from the Lorraine nobility and a former soldier, Lothaire embraced religious life after the death of his wife Tarcote.
Lothaire Lothaire Bishop of Séez and hermit of Lorrain origin. was from Lorraine, born of very noble blood. Some hagiographers make him the son of Lam Lambert Servant of Bertolf and one of the assassins. bert, prince of Moselle and Lorraine. He was raised at the court of the kings of France and bore arms. But, having seen his wi fe Tarc Tarcote Wife of Lothair and daughter of the King of the Lombards. ote, daugh ter of A Astolphe King of the Lombards in conflict with the papacy. stolphe, king of the Lombards, die, he opened his eyes to the inconstancy of human things, embraced the poverty of Jesus Christ, and, renouncing the world, he entered the paths of a calmer and safer life.
Eremitic life and foundation
After distributing his possessions, he established himself as a hermit near Argentan, attracting the faithful and founding what would become Saint-Loyer-des-Champs.
He shared his possessions among his sons, and, taking on a poor habit, he began to visit places of pilgrimage. Then he sought in the harshest deserts of Neustria a solitude where he could remain unknown to all. He found it near Argentan, on a hill then covered with great trees; he built himself a cell there in the shape of a tomb; and forgetting the world and himself, he occupied himself night and day with prayer, fasting, and God alone. The desert became populated, as a result of the crowd of faithful drawn there by the miracles of the holy anchorite, and a village formed there which took the name of the pious solitary, commonly cal led L Loyer Bishop of Séez and hermit of Lorrain origin. ohier or Loyer; it is today Saint-Loyer-des Saint-Loyer des Champs Village formed around the saint's hermitage. -Champs (Orne).
Episcopate at Séez
Elected bishop of Séez by popular acclamation, he led his diocese with wisdom before retiring.
But the fame of his holiness spread more and more. The result was that the inhabitants of Séez r eque Séez Episcopal see and primary location of the saint's activity. sted him as bishop, and despite his resistance he was raised to this see by the unanimous votes of the people.
He governed and defended his Church with as much wisdom as courage. After a long episcopate, feeling broken by labors and years, he asked his diocesans for permission to lay down the miter, and took the path back to his hermitage. There he lived for many more years, preparing himself through prayer, fasting, and mortifications for his blessed death, which occurred on June 15 in the year 756.
Retirement and death
He ended his days in his initial hermitage and died in 756, leaving behind a reputation for holiness and relics.
Proper of Séez. — We provide, in the Supplement, details on the relics of this holy Bishop, based on documents that only reached us after the printing of this Notice.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Military career at the court of the kings of France
- Renunciation of the world after the death of his wife
- Life as an anchorite near Argentan
- Election to the bishopric of Séez
- Return to the hermitage after a long episcopate
Miracles
- Miracles performed as an anchorite attracting crowds to the desert