Architectural features of the Cluny monastery. Cluny Monastery
The Abbey of Cluny was closed after the French Revolution in 1790, and three years later it was burned and looted by peasants. In 1798, the remains of the abbey were sold and used as a quarry for several decades. Only about 10% of the Basilica of Cluny III has survived to this day, including the southern bell tower. The surviving buildings were restored in the 20th century.
Not far from Cluny is the world famous ecumenist community of Taizé.
Literature
- “Cluny” // Catholic Encyclopedia. Ed. Franciscans. T.2. M.:2005
- Moulin, Leo Daily life of medieval monks in Western Europe (X-XV centuries). - M.: Young Guard, 2002. - ISBN 5-235-02450-8
- Catholic Encyclopedia. Congregation of Cluny
see also
Links
- Abbaye de Cluny (French)
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See what “Cluny (monastery)” is in other dictionaries:
- (French Cluny; or Clugny Clugny) estate in Upper Burgundy, near Macon. On September 11, 909, it was donated by the Duke of Aquitaine, William I the Pious, to Abbot Bernon for the founding of a new monastery. Cluny was taken out of custody... ... Catholic Encyclopedia
Cluny (French: Cluny): Cluny monastery in Burgundy, France. Cluny (congregation) monastic congregation, a branch of the Benedictines, based in the monastery of Cluny. Cluny (France) a commune in France Hotel Cluny Parisian museum.... ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Cluny (meanings). Cluny Monastery Cluny ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Cluny (meanings). Basilica of Cluny III (reconstruction) Cluny, Cluny monastic congregation ... Wikipedia
Benedictine abbey in Burgundy (see Burgundy) (department of Saône-et-Loire) founded by Duke William of Aquitaine. During the reign of Abbot Odon (927,942), Cluny became the center of the Cluny reform, which played a huge role in history... ... Geographical encyclopedia
- (from the Greek monasterion hermit’s cell), in a number of religions communities of monks ( monasteries) or nuns ( nunneries), receiving uniform rules life (charter). The architecture of the monastery is associated with national regional... ... Art encyclopedia
Monastery- (monastery), religious. a community of monks or nuns living in prayer and work according to the same rules (charter), often in solitary and remote places. Monasticism is characteristic of almost all religions. Buddha (c. 563 c. 483 BC) founded the monastic... ... The World History
Cluny- and the Cluny congregation. K. monastery in upper Burgundy, in the diocese of Macon. After France began to recover from internal unrest, as well as the raids of the Saracens, Hungarians and Normans, and peace and silence was restored, the nobility with a new... ... Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary
Monastery- (Greek monasthrion solitary dwelling, from monas lonely and threw to protect) communities of monks (monasteries) or nuns (nunneries), accepting common rules of life (rules). The most ancient Buddhist monasteries appeared in the 2nd half. 1 thousand... Architectural Dictionary
Or Cluny (Clugny) estate in Upper Burgundy, near Macon. In 910 it was presented to Abbot Bernon for the founding of a new monastery. K. was removed from dependence on any secular or spiritual authority and was subordinated ... encyclopedic Dictionary F. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Cluny Abbey is located in the eponymous French city, which arose in the course of history around the monastery itself. The city of Cluny is located north of Leon, in the French department of Saône-et-Loire. A complex structure, Cluny Abbey was built in the Roman style, with three churches built between the 10th and early 12th centuries.
Article: Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is an impressive monastery built by monks of the Benedictine order. Thousands of monks lived here under the Rule of St. Benedict, but now the Cluny Monastery is a unique religious shrine with a history of more than 1,100 years. Cluny was the center of the main monastic movement in the Middle Ages and the largest religious building until the expansion of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Cluny Abbey is located in the French city of the same name, which arose in the course of history around the monastery itself. The city of Cluny is located north of Leon, in the French department of Saône-et-Loire. A complex structure, Cluny Abbey was built in the Roman style, with three churches built between the 10th and early 12th centuries.
The history of Cluny begins in 910, with a monastery built on hunting grounds donated by William I the Pious, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne. The Duke decided to exempt the monks of the abbey from all taxes and fees and insisted that they pray exclusively for his soul. It was expected that William would not remain the patron of the monastery, but would retain his control over it and influence the monks. In fact, the monastery was not subordinate not only to secular rulers, but also to the local bishop himself. The monks of Cluny reported directly to the pope.
The departments of the Abbey of Cluny, or its branches, came to be called "priories", and this kind of system of governing monasteries laid the foundations for a new practice. Before the advent of Cluny, most monasteries were completely autonomous and communicated with each other only informally. However, the "senior" in the chain of other Cluny monasteries oversaw what was happening in his branches, and this system worked perfectly among the monks of the abbey. Around 1016, such innovations made it possible to significantly expand the power of the Pope.
On September 30, 1088, construction began on the third church of Cluny Abbey, part of which has survived to this day. It was the largest church in Christendom, and remains so to this day. In 1095, the five altars of the temple were consecrated by Pope Urban II.
Over the following centuries, Cluny gained his followers throughout Europe. In the 12th century, Cluny's membership numbered some 10,000 monks, four of whom later became Sovereign Pontiffs.
The Huguenots completely plundered the abbey in 1562. However, the complete collapse of Cluny came during the French Revolution, when the “old regime sentiments” returned and controlled crowds of peasants half destroyed the monastery. After the sale, the complex served as a quarry for several decades. Currently, most of Cluny is buried in ruins, which, however, still testify to how large the size of the monastery was.
In the southern wing, in the best preserved part of the church, stands the Bell Tower of the Holy Water with beautiful columns of the Corinthian order. The monastery also has a 13th-century Gothic building that actually serves as a cellar, with flour warehouses above it. This part of the complex has now been turned into a small museum where you can see models of the abbey, precious artifacts and parts of the buildings that are irretrievably lost.
Today, Cluny Abbey is considered one of the wonders of the ancient world.
Somehow I don’t even dare call Cluny a city. So, a provincial regional center, quiet and sleepy, whose whole life revolves on several hectares of land around an ancient, long-inactive abbey. Cluny had long ago forgotten what it was like, when it really was an abbey, and with a capital A. And no one is surprised by the slightly confused and disappointed looks of pilgrims of the 21st century - tourists who see only monumental ruins in front of them. Although you don’t even need to use much of your imagination to be amazed by the size of these ruins - in the open spaces that once were the central nave, the city square is now freely located, and the only really well-preserved part of it - the southern tower - is the height of a nine-story building.
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Every word, every phrase, every historical fact never exists on its own, and as soon as you cling to it, it will pull behind you a whole chain of further ones connected with it historical events. History is not a linear structure, but a whole tangle or, if you like, many parallel realities that coexist peacefully or not so peacefully in a single period of time, and perhaps even on the same territory.
Preparing for another trip to France, this time to Burgundy, I sat down to study the history of Cluny Abbey and very quickly realized that it was by no means limited to the history of the monastery and church in the city of Cluny, like an octopus, spreading the tentacles of its influence wherever it was possible. Why, even the city of Cluny itself owes its birth to this abbey... however, this is just a completely ordinary story. Just as metallurgical and oil-extracting enterprises are now, so in the Middle Ages abbeys, monasteries and large basilicas were such “city-forming enterprises.” In France, there is even a concept of “Cathedral City” - not “Cathedral City”, but exactly that.
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Created by Guillaume I the Pious to atone for his own sins, for the same reason the Cluny Abbey was exempt from all taxes, and at the same time from subordination to the local episcopate - apparently, Guillaume did not want the monks to be distracted by anything other than the salvation of his immortal soul. Moreover, there was a sin behind him, and apparently it gnawed at his soul pretty much - Guillaume brazenly expropriated the possessions and title of his relative, Count of Poitiers Eble Manzer. It is possible, rather more than likely, that the sin was far from the only one, because power is a very dirty game, and the higher you climb, the more large quantity corpses will have to be stepped over. And the practice of creating your own personal “pocket” monasteries in medieval Europe already existed in full.
But in fact, the monks quickly got rid of not only episcopal, but also any secular interference in their affairs, declaring their accountability only directly to the Pope. This was an unusually cunning political move - the Pope is very far away... at that time - probably more than one month of travel, and besides, the authority of the churchmen was not just great - but indisputable, so it’s unlikely that anyone would have even thought of asking they have a simple and uncomplicated question - “And, actually, why would that be?” And very little time passed before people started talking about the abbey that in the lands of the Franks from Burgundy to Normandy it surpassed even the Vatican itself in its power.
The Cluny monastic order was not only the most powerful religious formation of that time - and we are now talking about the 10th century - but it also started numerous disputes, many other monastic orders and communities spun off from it, in particular Clairvaux - whose zealous offspring, Bernard of Clairvaux, created a doctrine that defined the spiritual and partly political life Europe over the next 500 years.
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Despite the fact that the seeds thrown by Cluny Abbey sprouted for a very, very long time (as can be seen in the example of the same Bernard of Clairvaux), his own life turned out to be more like a supernova explosion. Having begun its rapid rise at the end of the 10th century, the abbey almost completely withered away in the 13th century. There were many reasons for this, but first of all - the decline of morals in the monastery itself (no one had ever managed, having practically unlimited power and freedom, to use it only for good) and the associated financial crisis. In addition, at this time new branches of the Benedictine order appeared and rose to power, challenging the autocracy of Cluny.
Well, after in 1516 the French king Francis I, just a year after his accession, had already successfully captured half of Italy and greatly frightened Pope Leo X, the Bologna Concordat was adopted. The Pope, although he remained formally the head of the church, lost almost all control levers religious organizations in France - the king now appointed hierarchs himself, church income also went directly to the French treasury.
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And going back to the thirteenth century - local rulers, dukes and counts, had absolutely no need for such strong and independent competitors - besides the fact that they had real power of influence on the people, they also accumulated quite decent cash, which were transported (not in full, of course, but still!) to Rome. The cracks through which finances flowed had to be plugged, and the sources of influence on fragile human minds had to be neutralized. Therefore, the secular authorities relied on local religious separatism, fueled by the “national feeling” that was just beginning to take shape. History has repeatedly shown that this is the most effective method, if you need to destroy something from the inside. In general, Oswald Spengler wrote in his “The Decline of Europe” that a carefully cultivated idea nation states is what will ultimately destroy this world. And we can now observe this process in all its glory...
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The idea is not new at all, or rather even as old as this world - the history of the Tower of Babel goes back more than one millennium, but for some reason people, more than anything else, like to contrast themselves with everything around them. But this is what they say in the theater - “a line to the side.” And although now we see only the sad ruins of what a thousand years ago was the greatest religious center of the medieval West, let’s try to use our imagination as much as possible and imagine how it was...
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Moreover, now we are just wandering through the remains of how it was. At the very entrance to the museum, which is now the ruins of a monastery, there is a model - only it is small and not at all representative. It is much better to lift your head under these colossal heights of stone vaults... in the dead silence of which every step echoes loudly. Cluny has something of the monumentality of ancient Roman ruins and the mournful silence of the Lisbon Monastery of Carmo - it also resembles the skeleton of a huge whale washed up on the shore...
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The first basilica appeared here in 927 under the first abbot, Abbot Bernon. But the growing influence of the abbey and its religious ideas led to the fact that the church quickly ceased to suit the church fathers - the influence must be visible and tangible and expressed in completely material forms, otherwise what good is it? The basilica was rebuilt, but very quickly they decided that, apparently, it would not be enough, and they decided to rebuild it again. As a result, this giant was born, 187 meters long and 40 meters high. Before the construction of the current St. Peter's Basilica in the sixteenth century, the largest religious building, can you imagine??? And not in Rome, but here, in Cluny...
The church in Cluny became the apotheosis of the Romanesque style - you, of course, know that it was from the Romanesque style of south-eastern France that Gothic grew, and it was in Cluny that the experiments that preceded this rebirth began. In this colossal church, a system of pointed vaults was used for the first time to lighten the structure. Of course, the first pancake turned out to be lumpy - after all, the ancient builders built, as they say, by eye - they did not yet have either the experience of their ancestors or computer modeling... Just as the first dome of Hagia Sophia collapsed in Constantinople, the first version of the tower collapsed a few years later in Cluny.
But the medieval builders learned their lesson - the second vault they erected stood until the Great French Revolution, when the central portal was blown up in a destructive frenzy, and the subsequent fire did not leave much chance for the rest of the building. But the palace of Jean of Bourbon, built nearby in the 15th century, was filled to capacity with the wreckage of former luxury - add to this a number of ancient Roman artifacts found in the area, and voila, the archaeological museum is ready!
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Inside the huge destroyed basilica it is empty, echoing and uncomfortable... Colossal sizes space oppresses with its silent emptiness. You won’t be able to feel it from the photographs - because even the volume of this structure, from the stone floor slabs to the ceiling, simply does not fit into the lens. But now we are standing only in the transept, that is, in the short “sleeve” of the temple... I already told you about the central nave; we walked through its ruins while walking to the entrance to the museum - it is, of course, completely impossible to identify it now, but nevertheless, this is what he is.
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Stucco molding, stained glass frescoes... of course, at one time all this was also in abundance here. The Cluniac monks tried to ensure that their church made the right impression not only from the outside. For which they paid - in the wake of the religious wars of the mid-sixteenth century, the Huguenots reached Cluny and completely plundered the abbey. Just don’t think that religious wars were fought exclusively for the glory of the triumph of the true faith...
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The fate of the abbey after the revolution was also predictable - what survived was stolen by peasants and city residents for building materials. The pitiful remains of what was once the great and formidable Abbey of Cluny were restored in the twentieth century - and even then they were not so much restored as simply mothballed, because there was too much “to be completed to the original”, I’m afraid that even the tireless Viollet-le-Duc I wouldn't take this on. And they gave the former monastery premises to the National higher school arts and crafts - in the buildings surrounding this cloister, absolutely empty monastery and museum halls, the purpose of which can only be learned from the signs on the doors, are adjacent to the institute's auditoriums.
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The territory of the former abbey is huge - perhaps comparable in size to the rest of the town of Cluny. If you want to see this, climb up to the observation deck of the Tour de Fromage - the “Cheese Tower”, which is located at the beginning of the street where the entrance to the Abbey Museum is. Now there is a tourist office there.
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In the town itself there is absolutely nothing else that could be classified as any significant landmark. And there is no need for this, everything here is imbued with the silent grandeur of the old abbey.
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If you find yourself here, go and see the Notre Dame Church, sandwiched between the houses, built in the transitional Romanesque-Gothic style. True, from above, from the tower, Notre Dame makes a much more interesting impression, because you can see its texture - but inside it is completely ascetically empty.
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Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul in Burgundy (France), the most important center of the movement for spiritual renewal the formation of the Western Church in X - beginning of XII centuries.
Founded on September 11, 909 (or 910) by Duke of Aquitaine William I the Pious (died 918). According to the founding charter, the monastery was placed under direct subordination to the Pope of Rome, received independence from local secular and spiritual authorities and the right to independently elect an abbot. The rise of Cluny is associated with the name of its second abbot Odon of Cluny, one of the initiators of the Cluny reform.
In the statutes and customs of Cluny Special attention was devoted to performing a full range of divine services, prayer, asceticism, contemplative life, and reading spiritual literature. Under Odon, the creation of the monastic congregation of Cluny began - an extensive network of subordinate monasteries (priors) throughout Europe; the abbey became a major landowner. The heyday of Cluny occurred during the reign of Odilon of Cluny, the second main ideologist of the Cluny reform. Special role acquired liturgical commemoration of the dead, which provided the monastery with an influx of memorial contributions and the support of the secular nobility. The Cluny congregation became an influential force Roman Catholic Church. In 998, Pope Gregory V (996-999) gave Cluny complete immunity, which in 1024 was extended to all Cluny communities. Under the abbots Hugh de Semur (1049-1109) and Peter the Venerable (1122-1156), the Cluny reform spread almost throughout Western Europe, the influence and wealth of the abbey grew, large-scale construction was carried out there. However, at the same time, the first symptoms of the crisis began to appear: disagreements and secularization within the monastic community.
In the 12th century, Cluny, despite the emergence of new influential spiritual centers - the monasteries of Citeaux and Clairvaux (see the article Cistercians), continued to play important role in the Roman Catholic Church, supporting the Gri-go-ri-an-skaya reform and the Crusades. However, spiritual decline led to a gradual loss of former power, privileges and influence. According to the concordat of 1516 with France, the French king received the right to appoint abbots. By the end of the 16th century, all Cluny monasteries outside France were closed or separated from the congregation. The Abbey of Cluny was liquidated in 1790 during the French Revolution of the 18th century.
The architectural complex of Cluny developed in 3 main stages. The 1st church (the so-called Cluny 1) was built in 910-927. The Basilica of Cluny II (948-981) had an atrium in front of the western facade, three 7-bay naves in the main part and an ambulatory with a crown of chapels around the choir. The Basilica of Cluny III (circa 1088-1130) was erected with the support of the King of Castile and Leon Alfonso VI: this majestic temple, 187 m long, remained the largest in the world until the time of the reconstruction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome (16th century). The basilica was preceded by a 3-nave narthex, flanked by two towers of the western facade. An entrance portal led from it into the 5-nave temple, in the tympanum of which there was a relief depicting the Last Judgment. The height of the central 11-bay nave with a semi-circular vault reached 30 m.
The outer walls of the temple were reinforced with buttresses, which is unusual for a Romanesque church. The basilica was crossed by 2 transepts (the only case in French architecture); There were towers above the middle cross of the large transept, above its northern and southern arms and above the middle cross of the small transept. Adjoining the transepts and the altar with the main apse were no less than 16 apse chapels with an ambulatory decorated with exquisite columns with sculpted capitals (Ochier Museum, Cluny). In addition, a richly decorated cloister was built on the site of Cluny II (1115-1122).
