Honorina
Encyclopedia
Saint Honorina is venerated as a saint
by the Catholic Church. She is the oldest, most revered virgin martyr in the Normandy
area of France. Not much is known of her — a tradition that exists in the diocese of Rouen that Honorina was a member of the Calates
, who was martyr
ed during the persecutions of Diocletian
. The spot of her martyrdom is said to have been Mélamare
between Lillebonne
and Harfleur
. Her body was thrown into the Seine
and would have drifted to Graville-Sainte-Honorine, where it was collected by Christians and buried in a tomb
.
Another tradition holds that she was martyred at Coulonces
. Other traditions place Honorina's martyrdom in the Pays d'Auge
, where several villages bear her name.
, the monks guarding her relics moved them closer to the interior, at the confluence of the Seine and the Oise
, placing them in the chapel
associated with a fortress. On June 21, 1082, the castle of Conflans was destroyed during a siege
. The monks therefore decided to build a church outside of the town walls, dedicated to Honorina. Her relics were transported solemnly in the presence of the bishop of Paris. The town to this day is called Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
.
A confraternity was founded in her honor in later years, and special indulgences associated with her cult were also approved. Saint Honorina is the patron saint
of boatmen, since Conflans-Sainte-Honorine became a port of arrival for the tug
s that travel on the rivers and canals of northern France.
Prisoners who were liberated thanks to the divine intercession of Saint Honorina brought their chains as an ex-voto
.
A regional pilgrimage, on Ascension Day, developed thanks to the monks of the priory of Conflans, who were associated with Bec Abbey
.
There are several French towns that are named Sainte-Honorine.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
by the Catholic Church. She is the oldest, most revered virgin martyr in the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
area of France. Not much is known of her — a tradition that exists in the diocese of Rouen that Honorina was a member of the Calates
Calates
The Caletes or Caleti were a Gaulish tribe of present-day Normandy. They occupied a section of the coast, between the Sequana and the Phrudis rivers.Harfleur was their principal port....
, who was martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed during the persecutions of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
. The spot of her martyrdom is said to have been Mélamare
Mélamare
Mélamare is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming town in the Pays de Caux, situated some east of Le Havre, near the junction of the D34 and D312 roads.-History:...
between Lillebonne
Lillebonne
Lillebonne is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It lies miles north of the Seine and east of Le Havre by railway.-History:...
and Harfleur
Harfleur
-Population:-Places of interest:* The church of St-Martin, dating from the fourteenth century.* The seventeenth century Hôtel de Ville .* Medieval ramparts * The fifteenth century museums of fishing and of archaeology and history....
. Her body was thrown into the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
and would have drifted to Graville-Sainte-Honorine, where it was collected by Christians and buried in a tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
.
Another tradition holds that she was martyred at Coulonces
Coulonces, Calvados
Coulonces is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
. Other traditions place Honorina's martyrdom in the Pays d'Auge
Pays d'Auge
The Pays d'Auge is an area in Normandy, straddling the départements of Calvados and Orne . The chief town is Lisieux.-Geography:Generally it consists of the basin of the Touques River....
, where several villages bear her name.
Relics
In 876, with the coast threatened by the NormansNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, the monks guarding her relics moved them closer to the interior, at the confluence of the Seine and the Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, placing them in the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
associated with a fortress. On June 21, 1082, the castle of Conflans was destroyed during a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. The monks therefore decided to build a church outside of the town walls, dedicated to Honorina. Her relics were transported solemnly in the presence of the bishop of Paris. The town to this day is called Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....
.
Veneration
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of boatmen, since Conflans-Sainte-Honorine became a port of arrival for the tug
Tug
Tuğ is a village in the Khojavend Rayon of Azerbaijan....
s that travel on the rivers and canals of northern France.
Prisoners who were liberated thanks to the divine intercession of Saint Honorina brought their chains as an ex-voto
Ex-voto
An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or divinity. It is given in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion...
.
A regional pilgrimage, on Ascension Day, developed thanks to the monks of the priory of Conflans, who were associated with Bec Abbey
Bec Abbey
Bec Abbey in Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy, France, once the most influential abbey in the Anglo-Norman kingdom of the twelfth century, is a Benedictine monastic foundation in the Eure département, in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay.Like all abbeys, Bec maintained annals...
.
There are several French towns that are named Sainte-Honorine.
External links
Honorine de Graville at the French WikipediaFrench Wikipedia
The French Wikipedia is the French language edition of Wikipedia, spelt Wikipédia. This edition was started in March 2001, and has about articles as of , making it the third-largest Wikipedia overall, after the English-language and German-language editions...