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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture We know about the monastic founder Stephen of Obazine (also Stephen of Vielzot; d. 1159), a native of the Limousin, chiefly from his Vita et Miracula (BHL 7916) written by a former disciple. According to this account, while he was still in the womb his mother experienced a premonitory dream in which she gave birth as it were to a lamb that when it had reached adulthood would lead a great herd of sheep. Stephen was educated for the church and after deliberating on the form of ecclesiastical life he would choose elected to become an hermit. Together with a friend they settled down in the woods of Obazine (today's Aubazine [Corrèze]). They attracted followers and founded the community of Obazine with Stephen in charge. In about 1135 Stephen was binding himself with iron and was wearing mail. He traveled to the Grande Chartreuse to learn about the Carthusian way. After his return he expanded his community, founded on the Carthusian model a church dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, and established a house for women a short distance way. The latter had many postulants. In 1142 Stephen was made abbot by an abbot whom the Vita does not further identify except to say that he had come to Obazine with the bishop of Limoges, whereupon the community changed its form of life from eremitic to monastic under the guidance of monks from Dalon. Stephen soon founded another house in the Limousin and another in Auvergne. In 1147/48 he and all his houses became Cistercian. Stephen was noted for miracles during his time as abbot. Others followed his death. Thus far the Vita. Obazine's cartulary survives and from this it is clear that Stephen's women's monastery, which was at Coyroux, was from the start joined with Obazine in a double-house arrangement. Stephen's cult was confirmed papally in 1701. He entered the Roman Martyrology in 2001 with the designation Saint. Some views of the originally later twelfth-century abbey church at Aubazine, now an église paroissiale Notre-Dame: http://tinyurl.com/gl97jx5 http://p2.storage.canalblog.com/29/52/1039903/108106354.jpg http://www.leguideduflaneur.com/medias/images/aubazine-eglise.jpg http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/4072179.jpg http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/4072189.jpg http://tinyurl.com/ycs2ftc This church houses Stephen's later thirteenth-century tomb. An illustrated, French-language page on this monument and other views thereof: http://tinyurl.com/yahuod4 http://tinyurl.com/yahp8sa Some views of the remains of the monastery church at Coyroux: http://tinyurl.com/ybj58cb http://tinyurl.com/ydnpsct Best, John Dillon ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion