Cadouin

Cadouin (in occitan: Cadonh ) is an old commune of France located in the south of the department of the the Dordogne, in area Aquitaine.

The village of Cadouin, however chief town of canton, is declining demographic continuous since the last third of the XIXe century (see table).

In 1974, Cadouin joined three other communes: Paleyrac , the Bush-Cussac and Urval , under the new name of Bush-to-Cadouin .

Abbey of Cadouin

The hermit Géraud Dirty founds an establishment of monks in a small valley with the variation of the valley of the Dordogne in 1115. This establishment joined the Ordre of Cîteaux in 1119. The abbey one was dedicated in 1154. Probably between 1201 and 1215 (date of the first mention of the Shroud in an act of Simon IV of Montfort), the abbey enters in possession of the “Suaire of Christ” and preserves it during several centuries. This distinguished Relique is worth with the abbey to become a great place of pilgrimage on the way of Compostelle.

This pilgrimage declines during the wars of religion, but is started again in 1644, by the publication of an official report of authenticity of Mgr of Lingendes. The abbots Louis d' Arodes (1660 - 1666) and Pierre Mary (1666 - 1696) benefit from this clearing, before a decline which lasts until the Révolution and the dispersion of the monks.

The Saint-Shroud is saved fire by the mayor, who hides it at his place under his floor, until it can be returned with the worship the September 8th 1797. However, it is the object only one parochial pilgrimage until Mgr Dabert, starts again bishop of Périgueux, it in 1866, renewal of enthusiasm which lasts until 1934.

On this date, a historian Jesuit shows the unauthenticity of the object because of presence of decorative bands. He also raises there an inscription in Coufique, style of writing of the Arabic alphabet. Opened by the " fatiha" , the Islamic profession of faith, the text states then that the veil was woven for Al-Musta' Li, caliph of the Egypt fatimide of the end of the 11th century. As of the shortly after the publication of this information, the bishop of Périgueux cancelled the pilgrimage with Cadouin, which lost there most of its incomes.

Usually visible in the cloister of the abbey, the shroud left in restoration to Périgueux in July 2005. A facsimile will be presented soon to the public.

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