St. Nivard | |
|---|---|
 Stained glass window in Hautvilliers Abbey depicting St Berchaire and St Nivard | |
| Bishop of Rheims ca. 649 - 673 | |
| Died | September 1, 673 Hautvillers, Marne, Grand Est, France |
| Resting place | Abbey of St Peter, Hautvillers 49.0819°N 3.9412°E |
| Honored in | Roman Catholicism |
| Feast | 1 September (Catholic) |
Nivard (Latin:Nivardus/Nivo; Spanish:Nivardo; died 1 September 673) was theBishop of Reims during theMerovingian Dynasty from approximately 649 until 673. He was later venerated as a medieval Catholic Saint.[1]
Most of what is known about Nivard comes the Frankish priest and chroniclerFlodoard and other ecclesiastical sources.[2] Born into a Merovingian noble family, Nivard was the brother-in-law of the Frankish KingChilderic II and was educated at the court of KingDagobert I inMetz.[3][4]
He was ordained in the court ofClovis II and served as bishop during the reigns ofClotarius III,Childebert the Adopted, andChilderic II for an unspecified length of time until his death in 673.[5][3] It is presumed he assumed the bishopric following the death of his predecessor Lando in 649, but most sources only list him as serving from sometime before 667.[1][3][4]
Nivard was known primarily for his generosity, wealth and commitment to living modestly. In theGallia christiana, in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa, he is described as having "been converted first in the king's court as a man of illustrious character," and credited with expanding the property of church by securing houses, land and slaves.[3] Nivard is remembered well by Flodoard for enriching the church of Reims and obtaining a royal privilege of immunity from certain taxes.[2][6]
He is often credited with rebuildingHautvilliers Abbey around the year 650 alongsideSt Berchaire.[7] Nivard also later built the monastery of Saint-Basle de Verzy at his own expense in 664 alongside multiple other churches and houses. Religious scholars credit him with instituting a unique privilege of immunity which recognized the right of the monks in Saint-Basle de Verzy and Hautvilliers to freely elect their abbot.[8][2]
Nivard would later be buried at Hautvilliers Abbey after his death on September 1, 673.[1]
St Nivard was venerated as a saint before the Catholic church adopted modern investigations performed by theCongregation for the Causes of Saints.
According to legend, St. Nivard andSt Berchaire chose the site for theHautvilliers Abbey after dreaming of a dove descending from heaven and landing upon a tree. Saint Nivard was later buried at the abbey upon his death and his relics are still held there.[9][10] Folklore about Saint Nivard was later referenced and played upon by the 14th century poetEustache Deschamps in some of his narrative works.[11]
In most of his iconography he is depicted beside St Berchaire building the abbey ofSaint-Pierre d'Hautvillers or dreaming of adove.[12]
Saint Nivard is recognized as asaint by theCatholic Church, and hisfeast day is September 1st.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Rheims ca. 657–673 | Succeeded by |
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