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Abbaye Saint-Victor, Marseille, photo by Philippe Alès.

Top 10 Outstanding Facts About Abbey of Saint-Victor De Marseille

The Abbey of Saint-Victor De Marseille is a church that was founded back in the 11^th Century. The Abbey was named after a Roman Soldier and Christian martyr Victor of Marseille. The building still contains artifacts in indicating the presence of a quarry that was active in the Greek period.

The building stands tall till date and an admission of 2 euros is required to access the unique crypts. The church still holds Saturday and Sunday masses. For long the Abbey has been a landmark in Marseille. It’s often referred to as the heart of the history of Marseille.  The church was later made into a minor basilica in 1934 by Pope Pius XI.         

1.The genesis of the Abbey of Saints

Saint Isarn, a Catalan monk and successor as abbot to Wiffred, began construction work in 1020, building the first upper church, tower and altar. Isarn was instrumental by his intercession with Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona, in obtaining the release from Moorish captivity of the monks of Lérins Abbey.

Blessed Bernard, abbot of St. Victor from 1064 to 1079, was one of the two ambassadors delegated by Pope Gregory VII to the Diet of Forchheim, where the German princes deposed Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. He was seized by one of the partisans of Henry IV and passed several months in prison. Gregory VII also sent him as legate to Spain and in reward for his services exempted St. Victor’s from all jurisdictions other than that of the Holy See.

2.Destruction of the Abbey

 Semipelagian heresy in the 15^th century affected greatly the Abbeys which led to its massive destruction during the same period. Both monasteries suffered from invasions by the Vikings and Saracens, and were destroyed in 838 by a Saracen fleet, when the then-abbess Saint Eusebia was also martyred with 39 nuns.

In 923, the Abbey of Saint-Victor was destroyed again by the Saracens. The building has been destroyed relentlessly however there has been several attempts to restore it so as to preserve the great heritage it holds.

3.Stripping down of its treasures

Abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, photo by Joseph Marchand.

In 1794 the abbey was stripped of its treasures. The building has been turned to warehouses, barracks and prisons made out of it.This greatly stripped the place of its heritage. The relics were burned, the gold and silver objects were melted down to make coins.

All that now remains of the abbey is the church of St. Victor, dedicated by Pope Benedict IX in 1040 and rebuilt in 1200. The abbey was later restored in the 19^th century by the first Empire and was used for worship again. The church was later made into a minor basilica in 1934 by Pope Pius XI.

4.The restoration of Abbey

 Through the efforts of Bishop Honorat and the rule of Saint Benedict life was restored to the Abbey. Its first Benedictine abbot Saint Wiffred was also hands on in its restoration to life at that moment. It recovered quickly, and from the middle of the 11th century its abbots were requested to restore religious life in the surrounding monasteries that had become decadent.

The restoration after words heavily encourages religious life to progress in the church. The benefits restoration can evidently be seen as the place still holds masses and holds sentimental historic value to the place.

5.Abbeys as a cemetery

The remains of Saint John Cassian were formerly in the crypt, along with those of Saints Maurice, Marcellinus and Peter, the body of one of the Holy Innocents, and Bishop Saint Maurontius.

The abbey crypt previously held Cassian’s remains, along with the remains of Saints Maurice, Marcellinus, Peter, also has it that it contains the relics of the eponymous martyr of Marseille from the 4th century.

6.Abbeys stands tall till date

Abbaye Saint Victor à Marseille, photo by Guiguilacagouille.

The medieval architecture today still features massive stone walls and crenelated towers. The interior of grey stone has several noteworthy relics and artifacts, some of which are all that survived revolution and war. One of the most interesting aspects of the fortress-like Abbays Saint-Victor is its crypt, which houses a series of early Christian tombs and sarcophagi. Several restorations have been done to the place over the years to preserve its history.

7.The abbey as a jewel of Architecture

marsiglia, photo by ho visto nina volare,

From an architectural point of view the place has Romanesque in the central while the aisles had gothic art. One can get a magnificent view of the port from the port. There are several traditions and cultures associated to the place; the procession of Candlemas. There are many cultures and archaeological organized at the place.

8.An expansion of the abbey

Father Jean-Antoine Bernard who took responsibility of the chapel, requested for the expansion of the existing building. However the request was not fruit full but was denied on the 22^nd October 1850 by the minister. He denied the proposal as it was too vague and recommended that it be amended to be more precise.

Following the new proposal and the support from General Adolphe Niel, the Minister of war authorized the rebuilding of the new chapel.

9.The abbey being affected by Semipelagian heresy

Woudrichem: Afbeelding van Victor van Marseille in molen Nooit Gedagt, photo by Guiguilacagouille.

Both monasteries (the abbey of Saint Victor and saint of Viuex-port) suffered during the invasion by the Vikings and Saracens and were destroyed in 838 by a saracent fleet. Abbey of Saint-Victor was later on destroyed again by the Saracens in 923.

10.The crypt of Abbey saint-Victor

The place still features massive stone and crenelated walls and towers. The crypt is however the notable interesting aspects of Abbey Saint-Victor and it houses a series of early Christian tombs and sarcophagi. The statue of Saint Victor stands inside in a modern stained glass window which replaced the ones destroyed during 4the World War II.

Indeed, the Abbey of Saint-Victor De Marseille can be attributed to holding both historical and religious value. Until today, the place is open for the public to view the magnificent history it holds. There have been several attempts to restore it so as to preserve its history for generations to come.