Ebrulf
Encyclopedia
Ebrulf (517–596) was a Frankish
saint
, hermit
, and abbot
. He was born at either Bayeux
or Beauvais
. A Merovingian courtier
at the court of Childebert I
, he was a cup-bearer
to the king and an administrator of the royal palace.
It was some time before he was given leave to go from court, but Ebrulf wished to become a monk so he arranged for his wife to be able to support herself (perhaps by placing her in a nunnery), and entered the abbey
of Deux Jumeaux. He became a monk at Bayeux before deciding to become a hermit at Exmes
, but at Exmes, crowds came to visit him and ask for his advice, so he settled in the densely-wooded Pays d'Ouche
in Normandy
.
A legend states that he converted a robber to Christianity
when the robber visited the rough settlement that Ebrulf had built near a spring of water, which consisted of a hedge enclosure and wattle and daub
huts. The robber warned Ebrulf of the dangers of the forest, but Ebrulf informed him that he feared no one. Repenting of his own sins, the robber brought a gift consisting of three loaves baked in ashes and a honeycomb
, and asked to be admitted as a monk.
This settlement became the abbey of Saint-Evroul. He founded other monastic houses, fifteen in total, all of which placed emphasis on manual labor both as a spiritual and economic exercise. Members of the nobility came to Ebrulf offering him money, land, houses to build monasteries. He founded, after 560, several monasteries in the diocese of Séez; one of them became the important Abbey of St-Martin-de-Séez.
as a result of the Norman invasion
, and the link between Ebrulf and England was maintained by the fact that four abbots from Saint-Evroul Abbey ruled English monasteries in the 11th and 12th centuries. They brought to England some of Ebrulf's relics. There was a feast commemorating the translation
of his relics is kept at Deeping Abbey
in England on August 30.
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
, and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
. He was born at either Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
or Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. A Merovingian courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
at the court of Childebert I
Childebert I
Childebert I was the Frankish king of Paris, a Merovingian dynast, one of the four sons of Clovis I who shared the kingdom of the Franks upon their father's death in 511...
, he was a cup-bearer
Cup-bearer
A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and...
to the king and an administrator of the royal palace.
It was some time before he was given leave to go from court, but Ebrulf wished to become a monk so he arranged for his wife to be able to support herself (perhaps by placing her in a nunnery), and entered the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Deux Jumeaux. He became a monk at Bayeux before deciding to become a hermit at Exmes
Exmes
Exmes is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-Heraldry:-References:*According to other sources, Exmes was the place of origin of persons named Amis, which name was later corrupted to various forms, including Amos...
, but at Exmes, crowds came to visit him and ask for his advice, so he settled in the densely-wooded Pays d'Ouche
Pays d'Ouche
The Pays d'Ouche is an historical and geographical region in Normandy. It extends from the southwest of Évreux up to Bernay and Beaumont-le-Roger as a northern limit, and down to L'Aigle and to Gacé in the south....
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
A legend states that he converted a robber to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
when the robber visited the rough settlement that Ebrulf had built near a spring of water, which consisted of a hedge enclosure and wattle and daub
Wattle and daub
Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw...
huts. The robber warned Ebrulf of the dangers of the forest, but Ebrulf informed him that he feared no one. Repenting of his own sins, the robber brought a gift consisting of three loaves baked in ashes and a honeycomb
Honeycomb
A honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal waxcells built by honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of honey and pollen.Beekeepers may remove the entire honeycomb to harvest honey...
, and asked to be admitted as a monk.
This settlement became the abbey of Saint-Evroul. He founded other monastic houses, fifteen in total, all of which placed emphasis on manual labor both as a spiritual and economic exercise. Members of the nobility came to Ebrulf offering him money, land, houses to build monasteries. He founded, after 560, several monasteries in the diocese of Séez; one of them became the important Abbey of St-Martin-de-Séez.
Veneration
He was venerated in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a result of the Norman invasion
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
, and the link between Ebrulf and England was maintained by the fact that four abbots from Saint-Evroul Abbey ruled English monasteries in the 11th and 12th centuries. They brought to England some of Ebrulf's relics. There was a feast commemorating the translation
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
of his relics is kept at Deeping Abbey
Deeping
Deeping may refer to:*The settlements of, and within The Deepings in Lincolnshire, England:**Market Deeping**Deeping St James**Deeping St Nicholas**Deeping Gate**West Deeping* Warwick Deeping , English author...
in England on August 30.