Research Assignment 3.1

The location I chose for 3.1 is Perigueux, France. This is on the Venezelay route through France. This is the resting place of St. Fronto.

I first looked up the Perigueux Cathedral on Wikipedia, and then the city of Perigueux on Wikipedia. I then looked up the Perigueux diocese on a catholic website, because I was struggling to find information on the cult history elsewhere.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9rigueux_Cathedral
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9rigueux
• http://catholicencyclopedia.newadvent.com/cathen/11668a.htm
• https://compostela.co.uk/limoges-road/saint-front-perigeux/
• Liber Sancti Iacobi

PreChristian Significance: “The name Périgueux comes from Petrocorii, a Latinization of Celtic words meaning “the four tribes” – the Gallic people that held the area before the Roman conquest. Périgueux was their capital city. In 200 BC, the Petrocorii came from the north and settled at Périgueux and established an encampment at La Boissière.” From Wikipedia link 2.

Romans took over after them and added temples, baths, amphitheaters, and a forum.

Saint of Devotion: St. Front (or Fronto), feast day October 25. He is called Bishop and Confessor.

Legends of Founding: Fronto brought his companion back to life and preached the gospel in Perigueux. “Blessed Fronto recovered his companion from death, using the staff of the Apostle, and converted the aforementioned city, through his preaching, to Christ. He went all over with many miracles, and died with dignity there, buried in the basilica built in his name and in which, through the munificence of God, many benefits are given to those who ask. Some traditions say he was a disciple of the brotherhood of Christ. His tomb is not like that of other saints; it is made with the greatest devotion as a rotunda, like the tomb of the Lord, and is more beautifully worked than all the tombs of other saints.” From Liber Sancti Iacobi.

Additionally, “Subsequent biographies, which appeared between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, make St. Front’s life one with that of St. Fronto of Nitria, thereby giving it an Egyptian colouring.” From Catholic Encyclopedia

Translation/Invention: “Pierre Raoul or Gérard, a parish priest in Périgord, brought back after the First Crusade the Holy Shroud of Christ, entrusted to him by a dying ecclesiastic of Le Puy, who himself obtained this relic from the legate Adhémar de Monteil.” From Catholic Encyclopedia

Special Practices/Liturgies: The Church of Perigueux is the only one in France to celebrate Charlemagne’s feast day (January 28). From Catholic Encyclopedia

“The Holy See instituted a confraternity in honour of the Holy Shroud, thought to be the oldest in France. ” From Catholic Encyclopedia.

It was a 5th century site of a school with distinguished professors. From Catholic Encyclopedia.

Surviving Art/Historical/Architectural Monuments: “The Cistercians who founded the monastery of Cadouin in 1115 had a church erected in honour of this relic; its cloister, a marvel of art, was consecrated in 1154. Notwithstanding the strict rules of the order interdicting the use of gold vases, the Chapter of Cîteaux permitted a gold reliquary for the Holy Shroud.” From Catholic Encyclopedia

The church is mainly rebuilt now in the late 1800s. From Wikipeda link 1.