The Diocese of Évreux (Latin: Dioecesis Ebroicensis; French: Diocèse d'Evreux) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome. The diocese comprises the department of Eure within the Region of Normandy. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Rouen, and belongs to the ecclesiastical province of the same name.
In 2011, in the Diocese of Évreux there was one priest for every 6,056 Catholics.
History Tradition has it that the diocese of Évreux was founded by Saint Taurinus. That tradition claims that he was born during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96), and was baptized by Pope Clement I (ca, 91-101). He set out for Gaul in the company of Saint Denis, who founded the Church of Paris. He went on an embassy to Rome, where he received the blessing of Pope Sixtus (ca. 116-125), after which he returned to Gaul. Shortly after the death of Sixtus, the barbarians overran the province. The last remark, on top of the unlikeliness of the other statements, makes it clear that the story is fiction. An attempt to fix the chronology places Taurinus in the time of Sixtus II (257-258), not Sixtus I. There were indeed barbarian incursions under the Emperor Gallienus (253-268) in those years, and Saint Denis is usually put in the third century; but then the part of the story involving Taurinus' first-century origins must be jettisoned, leaving practically nothing; and one must admit that the third-century date depends on a scholarly conjecture.Gallia christiana XI, pp. 564–566. For a critique, see:
Other writers suggest other dates. Chassant and Sauvage opt for dates of ca. 380–410.Chassant and Sauvage (1846), p. 1. Le Brasseur indicates a preference for the time of the Vandals in the fifth century,Le Brasseur (1727), pp. 26–27. but neither presents any evidence. Gams assigns a date of 412 in his list of Bishops of Évreux, and provides a day of death, 11 August.Gams (1873), p. 549. he date, however, is only the day on which the festival of 'Saint Taurinus' was held. Fisquet provides a rationale for the date of 412, but it too is composed of suppositions and conjectures, not facts.Fisquet (1864), p. 3. In reality there are no facts at all.
There is, however, a body. The remains were discovered by an inhabitant of Évreux named Laudulphus, who had retired to a nearby cave for prayer and meditation. In a dream he heard a heavenly choir chanting that the day was the Feast of Saint Taurinus. Laudulphus set off to inform his bishop, Bishop Viator,Bishop Viator is not mentioned in the medieval catalogues of Bishops of Évreux: Duchesne, p. 226. but amazingly the bishop died before Laudulphus could tell him the tale. Laudulphus was elected Viator's successor, and he immediately had a second vision, of a column extending from heaven to a certain spot on earth, where, upon investigation, they found a tomb, conveniently supplied with the inscription: HIC REQUIESCIT BEATUS TAURINUS, PRIMUS EPISCOPUS EBROICAE CIVITATIS ('Here lies Blessed Taurinus, first Bishop of Évreux). A little wooden chapel was built on the spot, out of which grew the Abbey of Saint-Taurin.Bosquet, pp. 394–395. Debedour (p. 21) points out that the wooden church was named in honor of St. Martin, not a putative Saint-Taurin. One must not imagine that the visions were only an electoral ploy by Laudulphus (Saint-Laud). During the invasions of the Northmen under Rollo (ca. 875 ff.), the body was moved twice, first to the Auvergne and then to Castrum Laudosum (Lezoux).Acta Sanctorum, pp. 646–647, a text of the twelfth century. When the remains were taken up, the translators found the inscription just quoted, which may have given rise to an element in the traditional story. The sack of Évreux by Rollo was witnessed by Bishop Seibardus.Duchesne, p. 230, with references cited in n. 3.
In the eighteenth century the Chapter of the Cathedral had a Dean, three archdeacons (Évreux, Neubourg and Ouche), a Treasurer, a Cantor, and a Penitentiary; there were thirty-one Canons, of whom the Abbot of Bec was the first. Eight of the senior canons were considered barons, and the most senior was the Baron of Angerville. There was also a Succentor and forty-five chaplains. There were some 550 parish churches in the diocese, of which eight were in Évreux itself.Gallia christiana XI, pp. 564–565.
Cathedral Part of the lower portion of the nave of Évreux Cathedral dates from the 11th century; the west facade with its two ungainly towers is, for the most part, the work of the late Renaissance, and various styles of the intervening period are represented in the rest of the church. A thorough restoration was completed in 1896. The elaborate north transept and portal are in the flamboyant Gothic. The choir, the finest part of the interior, is in an earlier Gothic style. Cardinal de la Balue, bishop of Évreux in the latter half of the 15th century, constructed the octagonal central tower, with its elegant spire; to him is also due the Lady chapel, which is remarkable for its finely preserved stained glass. Two rose windows in the transepts and the carved wooden screens of the side chapels are masterpieces of 16th-century workmanship.
The episcopal palace, a building of the 15th century, adjoins the south side of the cathedral. An interesting belfry, facing the handsome modern town hall, also dates from the 15th century. The church of St Taurin, in part Romanesque, has a choir of the 14th century and other portions of later date; it contains the shrine of St Taurin, a work of the 13th century.
From 1982 to 1995 the bishop of Évreux was the dissident cleric Jacques Gaillot who was subsequently demoted to the titular see of Partenia.
Bishops
To 1000
? Saint Taurinus (Taurin) ? Maximus (Mauxe)Maximus is omitted from the list of Bishops of Evreux by Duchesne, p. 227. ? EtheriusEtherius is omitted from the list of Bishops of Evreux by Duchesne, p. 227. Gaud d'Évreux 440–480Saint Gaud évêque d'Évreux (400–491) in french Maurusius 511 (Council of Orléans) Licinius (Councils of Orleans of 538, 541 and 549)Duchesne, p. 227, no. 3. FerrocinctusChassant and Sauvage, p. 9. Bishop Ferrocinctus is not mentioned in the medieval catalogues of the bishops of Évreux. attested in 557 (Council of Paris of 557)The name of Bishop Ferrocinctus appears, but not the name of his diocese: J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio editio novissima Tomus IX (Florence 1762), p. 747. Viator Laudulfus 585Duchesne, p. 228, points out that his date is very uncertain, and he does not vouch for 585: La place que je leur attribue ici n'est pas certainement la leur. Erminulfus 615 (attendee Council of Paris, 10 October 615)List of Bishops who signed the decrees of the Council of Paris: Odette Pontal, Die Synoden im Merowingerreich (Schöningh, 1986) p312. Waldus (Gaud) ca. 648 Ragnericus 650 Concessus ca. 667 Aeternus (Ethernus, Detherus, Eterne) around 670 Aquilinus"De Sancto Aquilino", Acta Sanctorum: Octobris Tomus VIII (Bruxelles: Alphonse Greuse 1853), pp. 488–505. Duchesne, p. 226, no. 10. (Aquilin) 673–695 Desiderius (Didier)Duchesne, p. 226, no. 11. after 684, and before 692. Stephan c. 752 Maurinus (attested in 762) Gervold 775–787 (resigned to become Abbot of Fontanelle) Ouen Joseph 833–846 Guntbertus 847–863 Hilduinus 864–870 Sebardus (Sébar) 870–893 Cerdegarius attested ca. 893 ? Hugo (Hugues)Fisquet, pp. 10–11. attested in 933 GuichardFisquet, pp. 10–11. (Guiscard, called Gunhard by Mabillon) ca. 954 – ca. 970 Gérard (Géraud) ca. 970 – ca. 1011
1000–1300
GilbertFisquet, p. 11. around 1012–1014 Hugo (Hugues) 1014–1046 Guillaume Flertel 1046–1066 Bauduin (Baldwin) 1066–1070 Gilbert (d'Arques) 1071–1112 (Giffard) Audin de Bayeux or Ouen 1113–1139 Rotrou de Warwick 1139–1165 Gilles du PercheChassant and Sauvage, pp. 48–50. 1170–1179 Jean (John Fitz Luke)Chassant and Sauvage, pp. 51–52. 1180–1192 Garin de Cierrey 1193–1201Eubel, I, p. 234. Robert de RoyeChassant and Sauvage, pp. 55–56. 1201–1203Eubel, I, p. 234. LucasChassant and Sauvage, pp. 57–59. 16 February 1203 – 30 January 1220Eubel, I, p. 234. Raoul de CierreyChassant and Sauvage, pp. 60–61. 2 June 1220 – 18 March 1223Eubel, I, p. 234. Richard de BellevueChassant and Sauvage, pp. 62–63. 17 July 1223 – 4 April 1236Eubel, I, p. 234. Raoul de CierreyRaoul was Canon and Archdeacon of Évreux when elected bishop. He was ordained a priest on the Saturday of Quatre-Temps (Ember Days) in September, and consecrated bishop the next day. Chassant and Sauvage, pp. 64–65. 2 June 1236 – 1 January 1243 Jean de La Cour d'AubergenvilleLe Brasseur, pp. 188–191. Chassant and Sauvage, pp. 66–68. Burey, pp. 92–93. 1244–1256 [Sede Vacante 1256 – 1259]In 1256 there was a double election, of Raoul de Grosparmi and of Raoul d'Aubusson. Aubusson won the approval of neither King Louis nor Pope Alexander IV and finally gave way. Le Brasseur, p. 193. Chassant and Sauvage, p. 69. Raoul de GrosparmiBurey, pp. 169–170. 1259–1263 (named Cardinal Bishop of Albano)Raoul had been Chancellor of King Louis IX. Eubel, I, p. 8. 17 December 1261. He began subscribing papal documents on 9 January 1263. He was Papal Legate on Louis' last crusade, and died with the king at Tunis in August 1270. Raoul de Chevry (Chevriers)Burey, p. 81. 1263–1269 Philippe de ChaourseBurey, p. 73. Bishop Philippe was an executor of the Testament of King Louis IX. Louis had founded the convent of Dominicans in Évreux 1270–1281 Nicolas d'Auteuil 1281 – 17 May 1298Eubel, I, p. 234. Gaufredus (Geoffrey) de Bar 1298 – 18 April 1299 Mathieu des Essarts 1299 – 1 October 1310
1300–1500
Geoffroy du Plessis 1310 – 13 November 1327 Adam de L'Île † 1328 (never consecrated)L'Île made his promise of payment to the Apostolic Chamber on 18 February 1328, but he died on 24 March. Fisquet, p. 33. Jean du Prat 1329–1333 Guillaume des Essarts 1333–1334 Vincent des Essarts 1334–1335 Geoffroy de Faé 1335–1340 Robert de Brucourt 1340–1374 Guillaume D`Estouteville 1374–1376 Bernard de Caritis 1376–1383 Philippe de Moulins 1384–1388 Guillaume de Vallau 1388–1400 Guillaume de Cantiers 1400–1418 Paolo CapranicaPaolo Capranica was the brother of Cardinal Domenico Capranica (1426–1458). Eubel, I, p. 34; II, p. 6. 1420–1427Capranica was named Archbishop of Benevento on 16 June 1427; he died on 31 December 1428. Eubel, I, p. 133. (never visited Normandy) Martial Formier 1427–1439 Pasquier de Vaux 1439–1443 Pierre I. de Treignac de CombornFisquet, pp. 44–46. 1443–1463 Guillaume de Flocques 7 January 1425 – November 1464 Jean IV de La Balue 1464–1467 Pierre Turpin de Crissé 1470–1473 Jean Héberge 1473–1479 Raoul du Faon 1479–1511
1500–1700
Ambroise Le Veneur de Tillières 1511–1531 Gabriel Le Veneur de Tillières 1531–1574 Claude de Sainctes 1575–1591 Jacques Davy Duperron 1591–1606 (Cardinal, 1603–1618)Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 7. Guillaume de Péricard 1608–1613 François de Péricard 1613–1646 Jacques Le Noël du PerronLe Noël was the nephew of Jean du Perron, Archbishop of Sens, and of Cardinal Jacques Davy du Perron, whose name he adopted. He took his oath to the King on 24 August 1648. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 180. 30 August 1646 – 17 February 1649 Gilles Boutaut 15 November 1649 – 1661 Joseph Zongo Ondedei, Bishop of Fréjus (refused the royal appointment to Évreux in March 1661) Henri Cauchon de Maupas du Tour 1664–1680 Louis-Joseph de Grignan 1681 Jacques Potier de Novion 1682–1709 (before Bishop of Sisteron)
1700–1800
M. de Heudicourt 1709 Jean Le Normand 10 November 1710 – 7 May 1733Ritzler, V, p. 191 and n. 5. Pierre-Jules-César de Rochechouard-Montigny (15 February 1734 – 1753)Nominated by King Louis XV on 28 August 1733. Ritzler, VI, p. 204 and n. 2. (transferred to Bayeux)