Abbaye de Saint-Ruf d'Avignon was a house of canons regular in the city of Avignon between the 11th and 18th centuries. It served as the mother house and original headquarters of the Order of Saint-Ruf, and was reduced to a priory after 1158. Its origins are linked to an early church dedication recorded on 18 August 917, as well as to a church outside the city walls to the south called an abbatiola. The church may have been one of the oldest in Avignon, possibly dating from the 4th century. The site is also associated with Rufus, regarded in later tradition as the founder and possibly buried near the church. On 1 January 1039, Bishop Benedict of Avignon granted the dilapidated church to four clerics, an act considered the foundation of the canonry of Saint-Ruf. The community later adopted the rule of Saint Augustine, and in or shortly after 1080 it was promoted to an abbey by Pope Gregory VII. The abbey then expanded rapidly, acquiring priories and receiving papal confirmation of its properties and customs in 1092.

◎ Nearby Objects

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  Church of the Célestins of Avignon 1300 m away
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  Collection Lambert 1500 m away
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  Musée Angladon 1500 m away
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  Musée lapidaire d'Avignon 1600 m away
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  Calvet Museum 1700 m away

History of the Abbey of Saint-Ruf

The Abbey of Saint-Ruf in Avignon was a house of canons regular active in the city between the 11th and 18th centuries. It served as the mother house and original headquarters of the Order of Saint-Ruf, giving it a central place in the history of the order. After 1158, it was reduced to the status of a priory, marking a change in its ecclesiastical standing while remaining part of Avignon's religious landscape.

Origins and Early Development

The origins of Abbaye de Saint-Ruf d'Avignon are linked to an early church dedicated to Saint Rufus, with the earliest reference dating to 18 August 917. This church stood outside the city walls to the south and was described as an abbatiola. It may have been one of the oldest churches in Avignon, perhaps dating from the 4th century. Rufus was associated as the first bishop of Avignon, although this was not accepted in the 10th and 11th centuries; he may also have been regarded as the church's founder. Because of the church's location near a cemetery, Rufus was possibly buried nearby.

On 1 January 1039, Bishop Benedict of Avignon granted the dilapidated church to four clerics named Kamaldus, Odilo, Pontius, and Durandus. This grant is considered the foundation act of the canonry of Saint-Ruf. In the same act, Benedict ceded the tithes owed to the old church to the four clerics. The community was described as religiose and dedicated itself to Saint Justus and Saint Rufus. At first, the clerics followed the rule of Aachen, and later they recognized the provost of the cathedral chapter as their rector.

In or shortly after 1080, Saint-Ruf was promoted to an abbey by Pope Gregory VII. Arbert became the first abbot and introduced the customary rule, and by 1084 the rule of Saint Augustine had been introduced at Saint-Ruf.

Expansion and Influence of the Abbey

The growth of Saint-Ruf d'Avignon advanced rapidly through the acquisition of many priories by donation. Its position was confirmed by Pope Urban II in 1092, who also approved its customs. The abbey soon played a notable role in ecclesiastical careers: two canons were among the six companions of Bruno the Carthusian when he founded Grande Chartreuse in 1084, a monk was elected bishop of Barcelona in 1085, Abbot Arbert became bishop of Avignon in 1096, Canon Berengar was elected bishop of Orange in 1107, and Olegarius was elected abbot in 1111 before becoming bishop of Barcelona in 1116.

The abbey also developed its own written and liturgical tradition. Lietbert, who succeeded Abbot Arbert, wrote a new version of the customary, the Liber ordinis, and a commentary on the Regula tertia, the third rule of Saint Augustine. Saint-Ruf remained attached to the Regula tertia even as the stricter Ordo monasterii came into vogue. Its customs spread widely: the cathedral chapters of Maguelone, Mende, Uzes, Tortosa, and Tarragona adopted them, as did the communities of Rottenbuch and Aureil. The monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra also adopted Saint-Ruf customs. After the First Crusade, Count Raymond I granted the abbey a church and lands in the County of Tripoli, further extending its reach and holdings.

Nicholas Breakspear and the Abbey's Early History

English monk Nicholas Breakspear was elected abbot of Growth between 1143 and 1147, linking the abbey to a figure who later became prominent in the Church. He traveled to Catalonia and was present at the siege of Tortosa in 1148, and he also acquired a church in Barcelona. His career advanced quickly after this period: he was made cardinal in 1150 and elected Pope Adrian IV in 1154. In 1158, the headquarters of Growth was moved, marking another change in the institution's history.

Decline and Later Recognition

The decline of Saint-Ruf in Avignon is associated with two interprovincial councils representing the provinces of Provence, Arles, Aix, and Embrun. In the 14th century, the abbey walls were crenellated against the threat of routiers. The buildings were renovated in 1628 after damage caused by the French Wars of Religion, but they were abandoned in 1764 because of disrepair. During the French Revolution, the buildings were confiscated and sold as biens nationaux on 14 September 1796. They were later declared a monument historique in 1889.