According to the Vitae Columbani abbatis discipulorumque eius by Jonah of Bobbio (first half of the 7th century), Fara founded the monastery of Notre-Dame et Saint-Pierre at Eboriac, which was later called Faremoutiers – the same name tributed to the village in which it is located (Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France). Initially, Fara was known as the abbess of Faremoutiers, and a disciple of Columbanus (7th century); after, as a saint of the Carolingian dynasty (9th century); from the 17th century onwards, and until today, she is the saint of the ears of corn or of the providence, venerated in some regions of north-eastern France and southern Italy. In the 17th century, in fact, after a long period of oblivion and decadence, the cult of Fara and the sanctuary of Faremuotiers experienced their most extraordinary splendour thanks to the religious and political strategy implemented by abbess Françoise de la Châtre (1605-1643). In the dramatic context of the Wars of Religion, the abbess decided to revitalize the foundress’s figure and devotion to overcome the community’s spiritual and moral crisis. She promoted many successful actions (translation of relics, devotional rites and practices, commissioning of literary and iconographic works), thus concluding the long process of constructing the hagiographic model personified by Fara.
Riti, reliquie, propaganda: il rilancio del culto di santa Fara per superare la crisi di Faremoutiers (XVII secolo)
Angela Laghezza
2022-01-01
Abstract
According to the Vitae Columbani abbatis discipulorumque eius by Jonah of Bobbio (first half of the 7th century), Fara founded the monastery of Notre-Dame et Saint-Pierre at Eboriac, which was later called Faremoutiers – the same name tributed to the village in which it is located (Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France). Initially, Fara was known as the abbess of Faremoutiers, and a disciple of Columbanus (7th century); after, as a saint of the Carolingian dynasty (9th century); from the 17th century onwards, and until today, she is the saint of the ears of corn or of the providence, venerated in some regions of north-eastern France and southern Italy. In the 17th century, in fact, after a long period of oblivion and decadence, the cult of Fara and the sanctuary of Faremuotiers experienced their most extraordinary splendour thanks to the religious and political strategy implemented by abbess Françoise de la Châtre (1605-1643). In the dramatic context of the Wars of Religion, the abbess decided to revitalize the foundress’s figure and devotion to overcome the community’s spiritual and moral crisis. She promoted many successful actions (translation of relics, devotional rites and practices, commissioning of literary and iconographic works), thus concluding the long process of constructing the hagiographic model personified by Fara.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
