Basilique Saint-Mathurin de Larchant

About

Saint-Mathurin de Larchant Basilica is a Catholic church in Larchant, France. Although the church is commonly referred to as the basilica, it has not been designated as such by the pope and is therefore not a basilica according to the rules of the Church. The building was classified as historic monuments in 1846.

The legend of Saint Mathurin: The church is dedicated to Saint Mathurin, who was born by legend in Larchant at the end of the third century. A 10th-century manuscript gives the legendary story of his life, which is repeated throughout the Middle Ages: Mathurin had been educated in the Catholic religion by Bishop Polycarpe. He was ordained a priest at the age of twenty. Rome was then struck with various ills and the daughter of the Roman emperor Maximien Hercules was tormented by the demon who, himself, began to cry out that a servant of Christ, Mathurin, had to come from Gaul to drive him out. Arriving in Rome, Mathurin healed the sick who had come to meet him and saved the emperor's daughter-in-law, Theodora. He remained in Rome for three years, performing many miracles and died there on the day of the November Calends...