Beneath the towering steeple of u00c9glise Saint-Florent, a tale unfolds. u00c9glise Saint-Florent stands as a testament to faith and history in Strasbourg’s Cronenbourg district. This Catholic church on Place Saint-Florent has a compelling story.
Let’s step back to the early 20th century. The parish of Saint-Florent was founded in 1904. Emperor Guillaume II, Bishop Fritzen, and the Municipal Council made this decision together. Auguste Fuchs became the first priest in 1905. He was entrusted with building the u00c9glise Saint-Florent.
The city owns the buildings. u00c9glise Saint-Florent was consecrated on December 15, 1912. It was dedicated to Saint Florent. Florent lived as a hermit in the Hasel valley. This was during the reign of King Dagobert II. He succeeded Saint Arbogast as the sixth bishop of Strasbourg. Florent served until his death in 676.
Saint Florent’s life is full of interesting stories. Legend says Florent began his service to God as a hermit. He lived in the Hasel valley. Tradition says this happened during King Dagobert II’s reign. Dagobert II donated generously to abbeys. He was a devout worshiper of past bishops. Florent likely succeeded Saint Arbogast in the late 6th century.
Saint Florent continued Saint Arbogast’s work. He founded two new monasteries. One was in Strasbourg on the site of the current Saint-Thomas church. The other was in Haslach at the entrance to the Bruche valley.
Tradition holds that Saint Florent was from Ireland. The late 6th century saw many Irish missionaries. They helped the Merovingian kings evangelize their realms. Saint Colomban was the most famous. He founded Luxeuil Abbey in 590. It was near Alsace.
Saint Florent founded a hermitage near the chapel named for him. It was in Oberhaslach. Forest animals often gathered around him. One day, King Dagobert’s hunters found him. They suspected him and took him prisoner. As they returned to the castle, their wagon got stuck. They could only free it with the prisoner’s help.
King Dagobert heard of this. He asked for Florent to be brought to the castle. Dagobert’s daughter Rotilde was blind and mute. Saint Florent only traveled by donkey. Before he arrived, the King’s daughter was healed. Celebrations filled the palace. The King offered the hermit land to build a church. He could have as much land as he could ride his donkey around in a day.
Look closely at the stained glass. Florent is not in Strasbourg Cathedral’s early bishops’ windows. He may have been in a window destroyed by the organ’s installation.
The u00c9glise Saint-Florent has seen many changes. Pierre Abry was a priest from 2010. Stanislas Kupczak served from 1998 to 2010. Roger Rèber served from 1968 to 1998. Joseph Trendel was there from 1951 to 1968. François-Xavier Gyss served from 1934 to 1951. Auguste Fuchs was the first priest from 1905 to 1933.
So, as you stand before u00c9glise Saint-Florent remember its long history. It is a story of faith. It is a story of dedication. It is a story of healing. It is a story etched in stone and glass.