Île Saint-Honorat
The Île Saint-Honorat is the second largest of the Lérins Islands, about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) off shore from the French Riviera town of Cannes. The island is approximately 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) in length (East to West) and 400 metres (1,300 ft) wide.
Since the fifth century, the island has been home to a community of monks.
History
The island, known to the Romans as Lerina, was uninhabited until Saint Honoratus founded a monastery on it at some time around the year 410. According to tradition, Honoratus made his home on the island intending to live as a hermit, but found himself joined by disciples (including Saint Caprais (Caprasius) who formed a monastic community around him. This had become "an immense monastery" by 427, according to the contemporary writings of John Cassian. Later legends have it that Saint Patrick, patron of Ireland, studied at the monastery in the fifth century.[1]
Over the following centuries, monastic life on the island was interrupted on several occasions by raids, mostly attributable to
In medieval times, the island became a very popular place of
In 1635, the island was captured by the Spanish, and the monks were expelled. They returned from exile in Vallauris two years later when the island was retaken by the French.
The monastery continued to suffer from Spanish and Genoese attacks. The number of monks dwindled to four and, in the proto-revolutionary climate of the time, the monastery was disestablished in 1787. Under the Revolution, the island became the property of the state, and was sold to a wealthy actress, Mademoiselle de Sainval, who lived there for twenty years.[citation needed]
In 1859, the island was bought by the Bishop of
Present
The island retains a monastery, which is home to 30 Cistercian monks, and is a popular tourist attraction offering pleasant woodland surroundings, in common with its neighbour the
The
The island is served all year round by a regular commercial ferry service from Cannes.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Bury, J. B. (1905). The life of St. Patrick and his place in history. London: Macmillan. pp. 37–41.