Praejectus
Encyclopedia
Saint Praejectus, Prejectus or Projectus (625–676) was a bishop of Clermont, who was killed with Amarinus. Born in the Auvergne
to the lesser nobility, he studied under Genesius of Clermont
. He was ordained a priest and then became bishop of Clermont in 666 with the approval of Childeric II
.
Praejectus founded monasteries, hospitals, and churches. He was killed as a result of political struggles of the day. Hector, lord of Marseilles, had been accused of various crimes, and at the order of Childeric, had been arrested and executed. Agritius, the man who killed Praejectus, believed that the bishop had been responsible for Hector’s death. At Volvic
, the assassin thus stabbed to death Praejectus and Amarinus, abbot
of a monastery in the area.
The death of Praejectus was linked to that of Saint Leger (Leodegarius). St. Leger was an opponent of Ebroin
, mayor of the palace
of Neustria
on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681. In a violent and despotic career, he strove to impose the authority of Neustria
, which was under his control, over Burgundy and Austrasia
.
Ebroin’s supporters, which included Praejectus, St. Reol of Rheims, St. Agilbert of Paris, and St. Ouen of Rouen, held a council of bishops that sat in judgment on Leger, at Marly
, near Paris
. Praejectus’ murderer may have been a supporter of Leger, who was later murdered on October 2, 679.
. The account was written perhaps by 690, as it was written during the lifetime of Bishop Avitus of Clermont.
The author may have been a nun from the monastery of Chamalières
. Chamalières was a monastery founded through Praejectus’ efforts, and it was presided over by an abbess who was probably a member of Praejectus’ family. The author may also have been a monk from Volvic or Saint-Amarin
.
During the time of Charlemagne
, Abbot Manasses of Flavigny Abbey
transferred from Volvic to Flavigny the relics of Praejectus.
His cultus spread to English
monastic calendars. The church at Volvic, where Praejectus was killed, is dedicated to “St Priest” (Projectus). In 1278, some of his relics (a finger) were translated
to the town of Saint-Prix
(Val-d'Oise
).
The valley of Saint-Amarin was named after Amarinus.
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
to the lesser nobility, he studied under Genesius of Clermont
Genesius of Clermont
Saint Genesius is a French saint. He was the twenty-first Bishop of Clermont and his feast day is celebrated on June 3.The legend, which is of a rather late date , says that he was descended from a senatorial family of Auvergne.Having received a liberal education he renounced his worldly...
. He was ordained a priest and then became bishop of Clermont in 666 with the approval of Childeric II
Childeric II
Childeric II was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole King of the Franks for the final two years of his life. He was the second eldest son of Clovis II. His elder brother Chlothar III was briefly sole king from 661, but gave...
.
Praejectus founded monasteries, hospitals, and churches. He was killed as a result of political struggles of the day. Hector, lord of Marseilles, had been accused of various crimes, and at the order of Childeric, had been arrested and executed. Agritius, the man who killed Praejectus, believed that the bishop had been responsible for Hector’s death. At Volvic
Volvic
Volvic is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-History:The church at Volvic is dedicated to “St Priest” . Projectus was killed here in 676 AD.-References:* -External links:***...
, the assassin thus stabbed to death Praejectus and Amarinus, 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...
of a monastery in the area.
The death of Praejectus was linked to that of Saint Leger (Leodegarius). St. Leger was an opponent of Ebroin
Ebroin
Ebroin was the Frankish mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681...
, mayor of the palace
Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus , used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries....
of Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681. In a violent and despotic career, he strove to impose the authority of Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
, which was under his control, over Burgundy and Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
.
Ebroin’s supporters, which included Praejectus, St. Reol of Rheims, St. Agilbert of Paris, and St. Ouen of Rouen, held a council of bishops that sat in judgment on Leger, at Marly
Marly
-France:* Marly, in the Moselle département* Marly, in the Nord département* Marly-Gomont, in the Aisne département* Marly-la-Ville, in the Val-d'Oise département...
, near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Praejectus’ murderer may have been a supporter of Leger, who was later murdered on October 2, 679.
Veneration
An account of Praejectus’ life was written shortly after his death and he was immediately venerated as a martyrMartyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. The account was written perhaps by 690, as it was written during the lifetime of Bishop Avitus of Clermont.
The author may have been a nun from the monastery of Chamalières
Chamalières
Chamalières is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.Chamalières is the third-largest town in the department and lies about from Lyon.-History:...
. Chamalières was a monastery founded through Praejectus’ efforts, and it was presided over by an abbess who was probably a member of Praejectus’ family. The author may also have been a monk from Volvic or Saint-Amarin
Saint-Amarin
Saint-Amarin is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
.
During the time of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, Abbot Manasses of Flavigny Abbey
Flavigny Abbey
Flavigny Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery, now occupied by the Dominicans, in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or département, France.-Benedictines:This monastery was founded in 717 by Widerad, who richly endowed it...
transferred from Volvic to Flavigny the relics of Praejectus.
His cultus spread to English
England
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...
monastic calendars. The church at Volvic, where Praejectus was killed, is dedicated to “St Priest” (Projectus). In 1278, some of his relics (a finger) were translated
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...
to the town of Saint-Prix
Saint-Prix, Val-d'Oise
Saint-Prix is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France.-References:** -External links:* * *...
(Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise is a French department, created in 1968 after the split of the Seine-et-Oise department and located in the Île-de-France region. In local slang, it is known as "quatre-vingt quinze" or "neuf cinq"...
).
The valley of Saint-Amarin was named after Amarinus.