| Saint Audomar | |
|---|---|
Statue de Saint Audomar (Omer). Church of Orval, Manche. |
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| Born | Guldendal, Switzerland |
| Died | ~670 AD |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 9 September |
Saint Audomar (died ca. 670 AD), better known as Saint Omer, was a Burgundy-born bishop of Thérouanne, after whom nearby Saint-Omer in northern France was named.
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He was born of a distinguished family towards the close of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century, at Guldendal, Switzerland. After the death of his mother, he entered with his father the abbey of Luxeuil in the Diocese of Besançon, probably about 615. Under the direction of Eustachius, Omer studied the Scriptures, in which he acquired remarkable proficiency.
When King Dagobert requested the appointment of a bishop for the important city of Terouenne, the capital of the ancient territory of the Morini in Neustria, he was appointed and consecrated in 637.
Though the Morini had received Christianity from Saint Fuscian and Saint Victoricus, and later Antmund and Adelbert, nearly every vestige of Christianity had disappeared. When Saint Audomare entered upon his episcopal duties, the Abbot of Luxeuil sent to his assistance several monks, among whom are mentioned Saint Bertin, Saint Mommolin and Saint Ebertran. Saint Omer had the satisfaction of seeing the Catholic religion firmly established in a short time.
About 654 he founded the Abbey of Saint Peter (now Saint Bertin's) in Sithiu, soon to equal if not surpass the old monastery of Luxeuil for the number of learned and zealous men educated there. Several years later he erected the Church of Our Lady of Sithiu, with a small monastery adjoining, which he turned over to the monks of Saint Bertin.
The exact date of his death is unknown, but he is believed to have died about the year 670.
The place of his burial is uncertain; most probably he was laid to rest in the church of Our Lady, later Saint-Omer Cathedral, where there is a 13th century cenotaph dedicated to him.
His feast is celebrated on 9 September.