Martin of Vertou

Figure of St. Martin of Vertou in the Saint-Martin church by Le Lion-d'Angers

Vertou city ​​arms

Saint Martin of Vertou (* 527 in Nantes , † 601 in Vertou ) was a French hermit and founder of a monastery. His feast day is October 24th.

biography

Only a few dates and facts from the life of Martin de Vertou have survived. He was appointed archdeacon of the diocese of Nantes by Bishop Felix of Nantes († 584) around 560/70 . In the following years he devoted himself to Christianizing the population; During this time he also visited the monastery of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes , where he introduced the Benedictine rule. Around the year 577 he gave up his office and retired to the forest solitude southeast of Nantes. He began building a church and a residential building; both were enlarged again and again in the following years, so that they later became the Monastery of Vertou . He probably died in the monastery he founded in 601 and was buried there as well. However, his grave is lost.

Legend

A legend reports that Martin de Vertou stuck his walking stick or pilgrim's stick into the ground in the middle of the cloister of his monastery; there it drove roots from which a mighty tree grew. This tree can be seen on the city arms of the village of Vertou - accompanied by French royal lilies and Breton ermine tails .

Others

The monastery founded by Marin von Vertou was rebuilt several times, but ultimately - with the exception of the baroque entrance portal - destroyed during the French Revolution .

Web links

Commons : Martin von Vertou  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• List of churches consecrated to Saint Martin of Vertou in France