Morimond Abbey

Morimond Abbey
Ruins of the church at Morimond Abbey

Morimond Abbeyis a religious complex in Parnoy-en-Bassigny, Haute-Marne department, in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. It was the fourth of the four great daughter abbeys of Cîteaux Abbey, of primary importance in the spread of the Cistercian Order, along with La Ferté to the south, Pontigny to the west and Clairvaux to the north.

History

Situated in the diocese of Langres, Morimond was founded in 1115 by Count Odelric of Aigremont and his wife Adeline of Choiseul and settled from Citeaux. The first abbot, known as a "pillar of the Cistercians", was Arnold the German. Thanks to his energy and influence, Morimond grew very rapidly, and established numerous colonies in France, Germany, Poland, Bohemia, Spain, and Cyprus. The only daughter-house in England and Wales was Dore Abbey, founded in 1147. Amongst the best-known were Ebrach Abbey in Germany (1126); Heiligenkreuz Abbey in Austria (1134); and Aiguebelle Abbey in France (1137), which was later restored by the Reformed Cistercians. Over the next two centuries Morimond continued to be active in the foundation of new Cistercian houses, so much so that towards the end of the 18th century Morimond counted amongst its filiations nearly seven hundred monasteries and nunneries.

Reproduction of a 1789 plan of the abbey

Briefs from various popes placed the principal Military Orders of Spain under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Abbot of Morimond: the Order of Calatrava (1187); the Order of Alcantara (1214); the Order of Christ in Portugal (1319), and later on those the Orders of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus in Savoy.

The name "Morimond" is from the Latin "mori mundo", or "Die to the world": all who entered these Cistercian abbeys in the 12th century renounced worldly life. One of the famous men who passed through Morimond was Otto of Freising, son of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and his spouse Agnes, daughter of Emperor Henry IV. He studied in Paris and then entered the abbey, of which he became abbot. Pope Benedict XII, third of the Avignon popes (1334–1342), also began his career as a monk in Morimond.

The cruciform abbey church with three aisles and closed choir, the sides of which are occupied by chapels linked by a gangway, was built to be restrained and severe, according the Cistercian building prescriptions, without towers or artistic adornment. In 1572, during the Wars of Religion, and again in 1636 in the Thirty Years' War, Morimond was destroyed; it was abandoned in 1791 in the French Revolution. Only the church survived, but fell into ruin during the 19th century.

Remains

Ruins of the library at Morimond Abbey

Today, of the medieval structures, only a fragment of the north aisle is still standing, although there remain from the 18th century the gateway, the library and some pavilions and arcades.

External links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

Coordinates: 48°3′26″N 5°40′22″E / 48.05722°N 5.67278°E / 48.05722; 5.67278


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Morimond, Abbey of — • Founded in 1115 by Odelric d Aigremont and his wife, Adeline de Choiseul Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Abbey of Morimond —     Abbey of Morimond     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Abbey of Morimond     Fourth daughter of Cîteaux situated in Champagne, Diocese of Langres, France; was founded in 1115 by Odelric d Aigremont and his wife, Adeline de Choiseul. Arnold, its… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Abbey of Waldsassen —     Abbey of Waldsassen     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Abbey of Waldsassen     ( Settlement in the woods ).     Located on the River Wondreb, Upper Palatinate, near the border of Bohemia, in the Diocese of Ratisbon. This celebrated Cistercian… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Abbey of Citeaux —     Abbey of Cîteaux     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Abbey of Cîteaux     Founded in 1098 by St. Robert, Abbot of Molesme, in a deserted and uninhabited part of the Diocese of Châlons sur Saône, today the Diocese of Dijon (Côte d Or, France), from… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Morimond — Zisterzienserabtei Morimond Lage: Frankreich Region Champagne Ardenne Ordnungsnummer (nach Janauschek): 5 Patrozinium: Gründungsjahr: 1115 Jahr der Auflösung/ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Morimond — Abbaye de Morimond L abbaye de Morimond est une abbaye cistercienne, située à Fresnoy en Bassigny, située dans le département de la Haute Marne, en France. Elle est la quatrième des quatre abbayes filles de Cîteaux, avec La Ferté, Pontigny et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bellevaux Abbey — This article is not about the Bellevaux Abbey near Limanton, Nièvre, France, nor the abbey near Lausanne, Switzerland Bellevaux Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1120 by Pons de Morimond [ [http://perso.orange.fr/jean… …   Wikipedia

  • Rueda Abbey — Panorama of the abbey buildings Rueda Abbey or Rueda de Ebro Abbey (Spanish: Real Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Rueda, or the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of the Wheel ) is a former Cistercian monastery in Sástago in the Ribera Baja del Ebro… …   Wikipedia

  • Tart Abbey — also Le Tart Abbey, was the first nunnery of the Cistercian movement. It was located in the present commune of Tart l Abbaye in Burgundy (Côte d Or), near Genlis, on the banks of the River Ouche and only a few miles away from Cîteaux Abbey, the …   Wikipedia

  • Lucelle Abbey — or Lützel Abbey ( fr. Abbaye de Lucelle; de. Kloster Lützel) was a Cistercian monastery in the present village of Lucelle, in the Haut Rhin department in Alsace, France, but located right on the Swiss border.The name of the original foundation… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”