Saint Mesmin

Mesmin (Maximin, Maximinus) (died c. 520 AD) is a French saint associated with the Bishopric of Orléans. He was the second abbot of Micy Abbey, founded by his uncle, Euspicius. Mesmin was the nephew of Euspicius, archpriest of Verdun. When the city was under siege, Euspicius went to Clovis I and asked clemency for the rebels. The king was so impressed, he took an interest in Euspicius and Mesmin's activities. In 508, Euspicius was looking for a place of retreat and found an unoccupied royal villa called Micy near Orléans, at the confluence of the Loire and Loiret rivers. He received the domain of Micy from Clovis in order to establish a monastery there. Euspicius became the first abbot of Micy Abbey. Upon his death in 510, Mesmin became abbot. During his tenure the religious life there flourished notably. The rule followed was that of the Eastern hermits observed by the followers of St. Anthony and St. Basil. These rules had been brought to the West by John Cassian and Martin of Tours. The monks of Micy contributed much to the civilization of the Orléans region; they cleared and drained the lands and taught the semi-barbarous inhabitants the worth and dignity of agricultural work. From Micy Abbey, monastic life spread within and around the diocese of Orleans. Saint Lié, who later became a hermit in the forest of Orléans, was a monk under Mesmin; as was Leonard of Noblac. Across the river from the abbey, on the north shore of the Loire was a Gallo-Roman villa on a cliff overlooking the river. It was called the Villa Berarii after Berarius, its one time owner; and the nearby village was called Béraire. Below the cliff was a natural cave where Mesmin would often go for solitude and prayer. The cave is near a towpath that was part of the Via Turonensis, a route from Paris to Compostela. Local legend says he fought a dragon there (Grotte du dragon de Béraire). This legend can be compared to Druidic ceremonies which persisted at the beginning of the Christian era.