La chapelle Saint Pothin - Varages, France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member YvesProvence
N 43° 35.685 E 005° 57.320
31T E 738552 N 4831108
Une chapelle datant d'avant 1278
Waymark Code: WM10JDZ
Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Date Posted: 05/15/2019
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member lumbricus
Views: 8
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FR Bien que Varages ait appartenu au diocèse de Riez, c'est dans une liste d'églises du diocèse d'Aix. datant de 1278, que la chapelle de Saint-Pothin est citée pour la première fois.
Il semble que les Varageois aient vénéré un dieu païen appelé Foutinus que l'on retrouve dans un certain nombre de régions de France. Il était représenté par un phallus et, selon la tradition . rendait Les hommes virils et les femmes fécondes.
Au XIIe siècle, l'Eglise souhaita trouver un saint-patron à Varages. Et, pour que la succession se passe sans heurt, elle choisit un saint dont le nom se rapprochait sensiblement de Foutinus: Saint- Photin (Photinus enlatin), premier évêque de Lyon, martyrisé en 177 au côté de Sainte Blandine.
Le cadastre comporte encore les noms de Saint-Photin et de nombreux Varageois ont porté au cours du temps, le prénom de Photin. Dans les textes anciens, les auteurs écrivirent indistinctement Photin ou Pothin en parlant du même saint. Mais, pour l'Eglise, Le nom de Photin ressemblait sans doute trop au dieu païen et en avril 1865, Pothin prit la place de Photin pour quelques mois avant de s'installer définitivement en 1889 sous La plume du curé d'alors.
Aujourd'hui Varages vénère chaque année Saint-Pothin au cours d'une grande fête votive où se mêlent chants, procession et bravade. Depuis 2004, la Confrérie du Luminaire de Saint-Photin fait revivre des traditions ancestrales.
EN Although Varages belonged to the Diocese of Riez, it is in a list of churches in the Diocese of Aix. dating from 1278, that the Chapel of Saint-Pothin is mentioned for the first time.
It seems that the Varageois worshipped a pagan god called Foutinus who is found in a number of regions of France. It was represented by a phallus and, according to tradition, made men manly and women fertile.
In the 12th century, the Church wanted to find a patron saint in Varages. And, so that the succession could proceed smoothly, she chose a saint whose name was very close to Foutinus: Saint-Photin (Photinus enlatin), the first bishop of Lyon, martyred in 177 alongside Sainte Blandine.
The land registry still includes the names of Saint-Photin and many Varageois have been given the first name Photin over the years. In the ancient texts, the authors wrote Photin or Pothin indistinctly, speaking of the same saint. But, for the Church, the name Photin probably resembled too much the pagan god and in April 1865, Pothin took the place of Photin for a few months before settling definitively in 1889 under the pen of the then priest.
Today Varages worships Saint-Pothin every year during a great votive festival where songs, procession and bravado are mixed. Since 2004, the Confrérie du Luminaire de Saint-Photin has been reviving ancestral traditions.


Source : on-site plate
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1278

Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque

If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic

Street address of Church:
Colline Saint Pothain
Varages, France
83670

Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]

If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed

If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed

Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed

Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed
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