Abbey of Saint-Ruf – Wikipedia
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L’ Saint-Ruf Abbey In Avignon it is an ex-monastery, partially in ruin, located in Avenue du Moulin Notre-Dame.
The ruins of the abbey were classified “historical monument” in 1889 [first] .
The Abbey of Saint-Ruf was the seat of an order of regular canons of Sant’Agostino at the end of the 11th century, developed by a place of worship on the outskirts of Avignon whose history is poorly documented, at least until its sale in 1039 Four canons of the cathedral chapter eager to “live religiously” by Bénézet, bishop of Avignon. The community was probably the first to adopt the rule of Sant’Agostino [2] .
Archaeological excavations showed that the abbey website was originally occupied by an early Christian necropolis, linked to the figure of San Rufo. But also the figure of the saint is poorly defined: tradition wants him the son of Simone di Cirene, but his qualification as the first bishop of Avignon binds him rather at the birth of the homonymous order [3] .
The abbey, supported by the papacy of Gregory VII and the accounts of Barcelona, became one of the main centers of the ecclesiastical reform in the twelfth century, radiating influence on the whole continent, from southern France, to the Iberian peninsula, to Scandinavia, to the southern Germans. The influence of the abbey was then supported by the constitution of the religious order of the regular canons of San Rufo, which however had a limited development. The order of the order was moved to Valence in 1158 after disputes with the chapter of the Cathedral of Avignon [4] . The site of the ancient abbey became the seat of a simple priory dedicated to San Rufo. Despite this apparent loss of importance, in the fourteenth century, two provincial councils met at the abbey, in 1326 and 1337, chaired by the waiter of Pope John XXII, Gasbert de Valle, Archbishop of Arles.
The bottom of the church (on the side of the apse), the bell tower, the transept and the beginning of the nave remain today.
Since the abbey was located outside the walls, in the Middle Ages it was fortified: the slits and the crossbows are still visible on the transept [5] .
The bell tower [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]
The lower levels of the bell tower consist of construction stone and have decorations in the confidence.
The upper level of the bell tower is entirely made in concio, whose equipment is irregular.
Chorus [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]
The church choir consists of a polygonal apse framed between two semi-circular apseidiole. The central apse has three apsidial windows. The axial apse window is adorned with a triple molding architect supported by two columns with a grooved stem.
Behind the choir, the transept present traces of fortifications.
The chorus itself, in semi-cupola, is adorned with three windows framed by columns with a varied decoration. Here too, the central window has a richer decoration.
A triumphal arch supported by two imposing pillars with a grooved stem precedes the choir.
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The nave in ruins and the choir
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[ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]
The ruins of the nave have an abundant decoration inspired by ancient art, typical of Provencal Romanesque art.
One of the capitals of the abbey, representing the Joseph’s dream (Marble dated 1145), is preserved at the Musée du Petit Palais in Avignon [6] .
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Grooved pillar with capital
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Fruit columns and capitals with acanthus leaves, flowers and fruits
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Fruit columns and capital with acanthus leaves
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View of the choir from the nave
- ^ “Former Abbey of Saint-Ruff” . , Mérimée base n. PA00081811, French Ministry of Culture and Communication
- ^ Jean Becquet, Dictionaries of institutes of perfection , vol. 2, Rome, ed. Paoline, 1975, col. 123.
- ^ HAGIOGRAPHY OF SAINT RUF (archived by URL Original on September 24, 2012) .
- ^ Jean Becquet, Dictionaries of institutes of perfection , vol. 2, Rome, ed. Paoline, 1975, col. 124.
- ^ Rouquette, p. 234.
- ^ Petit Palais Museum .
- ( FR ) Jean-Maurice Rouquette, Romanesque Provence , in La Nuit des Temps collection , flight. 1, La Pierre-Qui-Vire, ed. Zodiac, 1974.
- ( FR ) J. Brun-Durand, Letter on the ecclesiastical history of the Dauphiné – Saint -Ruf , in Bulletin of Archeology and Statistics of the Drome, Valence , vol. 5, Valence, 1870, pp. 7-19.
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