The abbey was founded in 650 by
Saint Nivard,
Bishop of Reims. According to legend, a dove indicated where to build an abbey that would follow the order of
Saint Benedict and
Saint Columbanus. The abbey flourished under the
Carolingian dynasty and drew great renown thanks to its manuscripts, such as the
Ebbo Gospels and perhaps the
Utrecht Psalter.
Saint Rieul joined the abbey in 662, before succeeding Saint Nivard as Archbishop of Reims in 669. In 841 a priest from Reims stole the
relic of the body of
Saint Helena from Rome and the reliquary was transferred to the abbey. The relics attracted pilgrims and the revenues allowed the abbey to purchase lands and vineyards in the vicinity (40 hectares). The remaining relics of St. Helena stayed in the monastery until the French Revolution broke out. The monastery was destroyed but the cellarer was able to hide the relics until they could be safely transported to Paris for public veneration again. They were then entrusted to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and installed in their church,
Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles de Paris, in 1819. ==References==