Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Gigny

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The abbey of Gigny (in Franche-Comté, current Jura department), founded in 880, by Bernon is one of the oldest Benedictine abbeys, at the origin of the order of Cluny.

Foundation: In the 880s Bernon established at Gigny a community intended to restore the observance defined by the rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia, called Benedictine Rule (circa 535) and generalized to all monasteries of men by Benedict of Aniane at the beginning of the 9th century. This new abbey, belonging to the diocese of Lyon throughout the Middle Ages, was supported by successive political dominations, especially by the liberalities of Rodolphe I, King of Burgundy. She quickly clinched to Baume-les-Messeurs and Saint-Lothain, placed under her dependence. In November 895, at the request of Abbé Bernon, Pope Formose ratified the foundation of the monastery of Gigny and took this abbey and that of Baume under the protection of the Holy See, which offered a certain guarantee against the greed of local authorities. It confirms the possessions of the two communities and grants the religious different privileges. In 909, Bernon founded Cluny, a priory independent of the Abbey of...