Rudesind
Encyclopedia
Saint Rudesind (November 26, 907 – March 1, 977) was a Galician bishop
and abbot
. He was born into the nobility; his father was Count Gutierre Menéndez , brother-in-law to Ordoño II and supporter of Alfonso III of León
, and his mother was St. Ilduaria Eriz . Rudesind was related to the abbess Saint Senorina. He became a Benedictine
monk
at a young age and became bishop of Mondoñedo
(Dumium) at the age of 18 (as Rudesind II), succeeding his uncle Sabarico II
.
(San Xoán de Caaveiro) (934) and the Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova
(September 12, 936).
To build Caaveiro, he managed to make his brother Fruela and his cousin Jimena give up their rights to the land of Villar, where he built this monastery.
governor of the lands of Celanova. Rudesind also had jurisdiction over the lands that extended from Riocaldo (the southern boundary of Galicia) to Santa Maria de Ortigueira
(on the Cantabrian
coast). Later, at the request of Elvira Ramírez of León , aunt of the future Ramiro III
, he was made governor of Galicia, from spring of 968 to early 969.
He led forces against Norse
and Moorish armies. The Moors had crossed the Mondego and had reached the Minho
.
In 966, the Norsemen had raided Galicia
and killed the warlord and bishop of Santiago de Compostela Sisnand in battle, but Rudesind later rallied the local forces and killed their leader Gundered.
, and he was in charge of that diocese from 968 to 977. After 977, he retired from his sees (he was succeeded at Compostela by Pelayo Rodríguez, a monk of Celanova).
) as abbot of Celanova. As abbot of Celanova, he was a leading figure of his time, and received visits from religious leaders throughout Galicia and Portugal
who wanted spiritual advice. A deacon
named Egila, in a donation that he made to Celanova, wrote this to Rudesind: "To you, eminent bishop, Rudesind, holiest father, true teacher, who teaches your subjects with your words and deeds...". He earned a reputation for performing miracles.
at the principal altar of the church of Celanova Abbey.
with Alfonso III, Ilduara accompanied him. She prayed at the hermitage of San Salvador on Mount Coruba, after climbing up to it alone and barefoot. There she received the knowledge, from Saint Michael, that she would bear a son who would become not only a great leader of men but also a holy man. In gratitude, she ordered the construction of a church there and remained until Rudesind had been born. She wanted to baptize her son at San Salvador, but the cart used to haul up the baptismal font
broke down. The workers went to get another cart. Meanwhile, however, Saint Michael had the broken cart move up the hill on its own accord.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and 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 into the nobility; his father was Count Gutierre Menéndez , brother-in-law to Ordoño II and supporter of Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III , called the Great, was the king of León, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son and successor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called "Emperor of Spain"...
, and his mother was St. Ilduaria Eriz . Rudesind was related to the abbess Saint Senorina. He became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at a young age and became bishop of Mondoñedo
Mondoñedo
Mondoñedo is a small town and municipality in the Galician province of Lugo, Spain. , the town has a population of 4,508. Mondoñedo occupies a sheltered valley among the northern outliers of the Cantabrian Mountains.-History:...
(Dumium) at the age of 18 (as Rudesind II), succeeding his uncle Sabarico II
Savaric II (Bishop of Mondoñedo)
Savaric II was the Bishop of Mondoñedo from 907. The see of Dumio, founded by Martin of Braga, had been transferred to Mondoñedo and Savaric often signed charters as episcopus dumiensis...
.
Founder of Monasteries
He founded, under the Benedictine Rule, monasteries such as Saint John of CaaveiroSaint John of Caaveiro
The Monastery of Saint John of Caaveiro is a Spanish monastery founded in the tenth century by Saint Rudesind. It is situated in Pontedeume, Ferrolterra, Galicia, within the Fragas do Eume Natural park....
(San Xoán de Caaveiro) (934) and the Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova
Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova
The monastery of San Salvador de Celanova is a religious complex in Celanova, Galicia, Spain. It was founded by St. Rudesind in 936. The jewel of the complex is the small mozarabic chapel of San Miguel, dating from 942....
(September 12, 936).
To build Caaveiro, he managed to make his brother Fruela and his cousin Jimena give up their rights to the land of Villar, where he built this monastery.
Administrative and military career
In 955, he was named by King Ordoño IIIOrdoño III of León
Ordoño III was the King of León from 951 to 956, son and successor of Ramiro II . He confronted Navarre and Castile, who supported his half-brother Sancho the Fat in disputing Ordoño's claim to the throne....
governor of the lands of Celanova. Rudesind also had jurisdiction over the lands that extended from Riocaldo (the southern boundary of Galicia) to Santa Maria de Ortigueira
Ortigueira
Ortigueira is a seaport and municipality in the Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain; it is located on the northern slope of the Serra da Faladoira, the river Mera and on the eastern shore of the Ria de Santa Marta—a winding, rock-bound and much indented inlet of the Bay of Biscay, between Capes...
(on the Cantabrian
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
coast). Later, at the request of Elvira Ramírez of León , aunt of the future Ramiro III
Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III , king of León , was the son of Sancho the Fat and his successor at the age of only five. During his minority, the regency was in the hands of two nuns: his aunt Elvira Ramírez of León, who took the title of queen during the minority, and his mother Teresa Ansúrez, who was put in a...
, he was made governor of Galicia, from spring of 968 to early 969.
He led forces against Norse
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
and Moorish armies. The Moors had crossed the Mondego and had reached the Minho
Minho River
The Minho or Miño is the longest river in Galicia, Spain, with an extension of 340 km.Both names come from Latin Minius...
.
In 966, the Norsemen had raided Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
and killed the warlord and bishop of Santiago de Compostela Sisnand in battle, but Rudesind later rallied the local forces and killed their leader Gundered.
Episcopal career
Rudesind had already served as bishop of Mondoñedo - Dumio. After the killing of Sisnand in the battle of Fornelos, Rudesind was appointed administrator of the See of Iria FlaviaIria Flavia
Iria Flavia or simply Iria in Galicia, northwestern Spain, was a Celtiberian port, the main seat of the Caporos, on the road between Braga and Astorga. The Romans rebuilt the road as via XVIII or Via Nova and refounded the Celtiberian port as Iria Flavia to complement Vespasian...
, and he was in charge of that diocese from 968 to 977. After 977, he retired from his sees (he was succeeded at Compostela by Pelayo Rodríguez, a monk of Celanova).
Career as abbot
Rudesind succeeded St. Franquila (originally from the monastery of Ribas de SilRibas de Sil
Ribas de Sil is a town located in Galicia, in the Spanish province of Lugo. The monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil is first mentioned in the 10th century, but is believed to have been founded here in between the 6th and 7th century....
) as abbot of Celanova. As abbot of Celanova, he was a leading figure of his time, and received visits from religious leaders throughout Galicia and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
who wanted spiritual advice. A deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
named Egila, in a donation that he made to Celanova, wrote this to Rudesind: "To you, eminent bishop, Rudesind, holiest father, true teacher, who teaches your subjects with your words and deeds...". He earned a reputation for performing miracles.
Veneration
In 1601, his relics were exhumed and placed in a silver urnUrn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
at the principal altar of the church of Celanova Abbey.
Legends
A legend told of Rudesind concerns his birth. His mother had had previous children, but they had all died in infancy. When her husband Gutierre went on an expedition to CoimbraCoimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
with Alfonso III, Ilduara accompanied him. She prayed at the hermitage of San Salvador on Mount Coruba, after climbing up to it alone and barefoot. There she received the knowledge, from Saint Michael, that she would bear a son who would become not only a great leader of men but also a holy man. In gratitude, she ordered the construction of a church there and remained until Rudesind had been born. She wanted to baptize her son at San Salvador, but the cart used to haul up the baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
broke down. The workers went to get another cart. Meanwhile, however, Saint Michael had the broken cart move up the hill on its own accord.