Junian of Mairé
Encyclopedia
Saint Junian was a 6th century Christian
hermit
and abbot
. He was the founder of Mairé, or Mariacum, Abbey in Poitou
, France
. He was born at the beginning of the 6th century, at Brioux near Champagné-le-Sec
.
He was living a life of austerity as a hermit during the reign of Chlothar I. Junian acquired disciples and founded a religious community at Mairé-l'Evescault, south of Deux-Sèvres
.
Junian was a friend of Radegund
, the Queen of France who had founded the abbey of Sainte-Croix de Poitiers. Junian and Radegonde died on the same day, on August 13, 587.
Junian's monastery
at Mairé was partially destroyed during the wars of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne
and was finally demolished during the French Revolution
, the stone being re-used for local construction and the lands reverting to their farming origins.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
. He was the founder of Mairé, or Mariacum, Abbey in Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was born at the beginning of the 6th century, at Brioux near Champagné-le-Sec
Champagné-le-Sec
Champagné-le-Sec is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-References:*...
.
He was living a life of austerity as a hermit during the reign of Chlothar I. Junian acquired disciples and founded a religious community at Mairé-l'Evescault, south of Deux-Sèvres
Deux-Sèvres
Deux-Sèvres is a French département. Deux-Sèvres literally means "two Sèvres": the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise are two rivers which have their sources in the department.-History:...
.
Junian was a friend of Radegund
Radegund
Radegund was a 6th century Frankish princess, who founded the monastery of the Holy Cross at Poitiers. Canonized in the 9th century, she is the patron saint of several English churches and of Jesus College, Cambridge.-Life history:Radegund was born about 520 to Bertachar, one of the three kings...
, the Queen of France who had founded the abbey of Sainte-Croix de Poitiers. Junian and Radegonde died on the same day, on August 13, 587.
Junian's monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
at Mairé was partially destroyed during the wars of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
and was finally demolished during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the stone being re-used for local construction and the lands reverting to their farming origins.