The Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux (Latin: Dioecesis Baiocensis et Lexoviensis; French: Diocèse de Bayeux et Lisieux) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is coextensive with the Department of Calvados and is a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Rouen, also in Normandy.

With the Concordat of 1802, the former Diocese of Lisieux was merged with that of Bayeux. A pontifical brief in 1854 authorized the Bishop of Bayeux to call himself Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux.

In 2022, in the Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux there was one priest for every 2,672 Catholics.

History A local legend found in 15th-century breviaries calls St. Exuperius an immediate disciple of Pope Clement I (88 to 99 CE), and the first Bishop of Bayeux. His see would according to this therefore have been founded in the 1st century. Regnobert of Bayeux, the same legend tells us, succeeded St. Exuperius. But neither the Bollandists, Jules Lair, nor Louis Duchesne found no basis for this legend; it was only towards the end of the 4th century or beginning of the 5th century that Exuperius might have founded the See of Bayeux.Duchesne, pp. 215, 219.

Some successors of St. Exuperius were honored as saints: Referendus, Rufinianus, and Lupus (about 465)Lupus is said, in the Life of Saint Lupus, to have been the third (bishop) from S. Exuperius. That timeline makes a first-century Exuperius impossible. Duchesne, Fastes episcopaux... II, p. 214. Saint Vigor (early 6th century) destroyed a pagan temple, then still in use Regnobert of Bayeux (about 629) founded many churches and the legend anachronistically calls him the first successor of Exuperius Hugues (d. 730) was simultaneously bishop of two other sees, Paris and Rouen.

Odo of Bayeux (1050–97), brother of William the Conqueror, built the cathedral and was present at the Battle of Hastings. He was imprisoned in 1082 for attempting to lead an expedition to Italy to overthrow Pope Gregory VII, and died as a crusader in Sicily. Cardinal Agostino Trivulzio (1531–48), papal legate in the Roman Campagna, was trapped in the Castel Sant'Angelo during the siege and pillage of Rome by the Imperial forces led by the Constable de Bourbon. Arnaud Cardinal d'Ossat (1602–04) was a prominent diplomat identified with the second conversion of Henry IV of France from Protestantism to Catholicism. Claude Fauchet, former court religieux to Louis XVI, became one of the "conquerors" of the Bastille. He was chosen Constitutional Bishop of Bayeux in 1791, and beheaded 31 October 1793. Léon-Adolphe Amette, Archbishop of Paris was, until 1905, Bishop of Bayeux.

A council at Caen in 1042, summoned by Duke William ('the Conqueror') and the bishops of Normandy, proclaimed the Truce of God, not for the first time.J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice 1774), pp. 597–600. In 1061 a council was again summoned by Duke William, who commanded the attendance of both clergy and laity (bishops, abbots, political and military leaders). The statutes of a synod held at Bayeux about 1300 furnish a very fair idea of the discipline of the time.Fisquet, pp. 51–53.

In the Diocese of Bayeux are the Abbey of St. Stephen (Abbaye-aux-Hommes) and the Abbey of the Holy Trinity (Abbaye-aux-Dames), both founded at Caen by William the Conqueror (1029–87) and his wife Matilda of Flanders in expiation of their unlawful marriage. The Abbey of Saint-Étienne was first governed by Lanfranc (1066–1070), who afterwards became Archbishop of Canterbury. Other abbeys were those of Troarn of which Durand of Troarn, the successful opponent of Berengarius, was abbot in the 11th century; and the Abbaye du Val, of which Armand-Jean de Rancé (1626–1700) was abbot, in 1661, prior to his reform of La Trappe Abbey. The Abbey of St. Evroul (Ebrulphus) in the Diocese of Lisieux, founded about 560 by Bayeux native St. Evroul, was the home of chronicler Ordericus Vitalis (1075–1141).

Bishop Guillaume Bonnet founded the Collège de Bayeux in Paris in 1308 to house students from the dioceses of Bayeux, Le Mans, and Angers studying medicine or civil law. Fisquet, p. 54.

In 1641 Saint Jean Eudes founded the Congregation of Notre Dame de Charité du Refuge, devoted to the protection of reformed prostitutes. The mission of the nuns later expanded to include other services to girls and women, including education. In 1900 the Order included 33 establishments in France and elsewhere, each an independent entity. At Tilly in the Diocese of Bayeux, Michel Vingtras established, in 1839, the politico-religious society known as La Miséricorde in connexion with the survivors of La Petite Eglise, condemned in 1843 by Gregory XVI. Daniel Huet, the famous savant (1630–1721) and Bishop of Avranches, was a native of Caen.

Bishop François II de Nesmond authorized the establishment of the Congregation of the Mission of Saint-Lazare in the diocese of Bayeux in 1682.Fisquet, p. 113.

During World War I, the diocese of Bayeux sent 260 priests and 75 seminarians into military service. Seventeen priests and sixteen seminarians died. In c. 1920 there were 716 parishes in the diocese.

Bishops

To 1000

Exuperius 390? – 405?Exuperius is also known as Spire (Spirius), Soupir, Soupierre, and Exupère in later French references. His real dates are unknown: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 346–347. Fisquet, pp. 6–8, assigns the arbitrary dates of 'towards 490–505'. There are no contemporary documents. Duchesne, p. 219 no. 1. Regnobertus (Regnobert, or Renobert, Rennobert, Raimbert): dubiousHis name occurs in the episcopal list of Bayeux (eleventh century). There is a legendary life, attributed to his successor Lupus. Gallia christiana XI, p. 347, omits him. Fisquet, p. 7, discusses the legend, but does not give him a place in the list of bishops. Duchesne, p. 219, omits him, discussing the hagiographic and liturgical matter at pp. 216–217. Rufinianus ...–434 Lupus c. 434 – c. 464Fisquet, p. 8, expresses the belief (Nous craignons bien) that his legend, in the Life of Saint Regnobert, is not apocryphal. Duchesne, pp. 219–220, no. 3. A reign of thirty-two years is attributed to him. Patricius 464?–469?The name Patricius (Patrice) occurs in the episcopal list (9th–11th century), but as Duchesne remarks (p. 217), "Il est sûr, que ni l'un ni l'autre des deux listes ne saurait être considerée comme digne de foi." Patricius' feast day is the same as that of St. Exuperius and Saint Patrick of Nevers. Duchesne does not admit the name into his list of bishops of Bayeux. The dates assigned to him by Fisquet, pp. 8–9, are imaginary. Fisquet admits that the ecclesiastical remains of the name Patricius refer to the British Patrick who evangelized Ireland. Manveus 470?–480?Manveus is also called Manvé, Mange, Manvieu, Manvien, Mar-Wig. The only document that mentions him is the episcopal list of the 9th to 11th century. Duchesne, p. 217, excludes him, and speculates that his name might have wandered onto the episcopal list from a list of saints. Fisquet, p. 9, repeats hagiographical details, such as a forty-seven day period in which he ate nothing but the Holy Eucharist. Contestus 480–513Contestus is also called Contès, Context, and even Content, or Contentius. There are no contemporary documents or references. Fisquet, pp. 9–10. Duchesne, p. 219, points out that he is a legend from the Breviary, and that he is sextus a S. Exuperio, part of the later reconstruction of the episcopal list. Vigor (Vigorus) 513–537Vigor is known from the hagiographic Life of Saint Pair, Bishop of Avranches. According to Venantius Fortunatus he was a contemporary of Bishops Melaine of Rennes and Lô of Coutances, who attended the Council of Orléans in 511. He was the founder of a monastery at Crisy, between Caen and Bayeux, which, in the 11th century, came to be named after him. Fisquet, pp. 10–11. Duchesne, p. 220 no. 4. Leucadius c. 538 – after 549Bishop Leucadius took part in the Third Council of Orléans in May 538. He sent the priest Theodorus as a representative to the Council of Orleans of 541 and again to the Council of Orléans of October 549. Duchesne, p. 220 no. 5. Carolus De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), pp. 129, 145, 160. LascivusA Bishop Lascivus (Lascivius, Lauscius) subscribes to the acts of a Council of Paris that took place between 556 and 573. His diocese is not indicated. Duchesne, p. 220 no. 6. De Clercq, p. 210. Leodoaldus or Leudovald c. 581 – c. 614Bishop Leodoaldus was present at the Council of Paris in October 614. Fisquet, 11–12. Duchesne, p. 220 no. 7. De Clercq, p. 281. Gérétran of Bayeux (Geretrandus) or Gertran c. 615Fisquet, p. 12. Ragnobertus 625–668Bishop Regnobertus was present at the Council of Clichy in 627. Fisquet, pp. 12–15. Duchesne, pp. 220–221, no. 8. De Clercq, p. 297. Gerbold (Gereboldus) or Gerebauld) 689–691 Framboldus 691?–722?There is no evidence for Frambold, or Framboldus, outside the 9th century episcopal list. He had been a monk and abbot of the diocese of Mans. Fisquet, pp. 15–16. Duchesne, pp. 212, 219, who does not admit Framboldus to his list of actual bishops. Hugo of Champagne 723–730Hugh also held the dioceses of Paris and Rouen, and the abbeys of Jumièges and Abbot of Fontenelle at the same time. This is one of the earliest examples of corrupt plurality of benefices. He died on 8 April 730. Fisquet, pp. 16–17. Duchesne, p. 221 no. 10. Leodeningus, c. 765Bishop Leodeningus was present at the assembly of Attigny in 762 (or 765). J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XII (Florence: Antonius Zatta 1766), p. 675. Duchesne, p. 221, no. 11. Thior (Thiorus)Thiorus: no evidence. Duchesne, p. 221 note 4. Careviltus (Carveniltus) c. 833Careviltus subscribed a charter of Aldric of Sens in favor of Saint-Remi in 833. Duchesne, p. 221 no. 12. Harimbert or Ermbart 835–837Harimbertus was present at the Conventus Carisiacensis (Kiersey) in 838: J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: Antonius Zatta 1769), p. 740. Duchesne, p. 221 no. 13. Saint Sulpice (Sulpicius) 838–844Sulpicius is included in the episcopal list of Bayeux only because he is named in a hagiographical text: Gallia christiana XI, p. 351, which Duchesne, p. 221 note 5, considers "des moins recommendables". Baltfridus c. 843–858Baltfridus is also called Badfridus, Waltfride, Baufroy, and Vaufroy. Gallia christiana XI, p. 351. Duchesne, p. 221 no. 14. [Tortoldus 859]Tortoldus was a usurper, installed by the intrigues of Archbishop Wenilo of Sens. His intrusion was denounced by the Council of Savonnières (14 June 859). Gallia christiana XI, p. 352. Fisquet, pp. 18–19. Duchesne, pp. 221–222. Erchambert 859–c. 876Erchambertus: Gallia christiana XI, p. 352. Fisquet, p. 19. Duchesne, pp. 221–222, no. 15. Henricus (I.) c. 927–after 933Henricus: Gallia christiana XI, p. 352. Fisquet, pp. 19–20. Richard (I.)Richard: Fisquet, p. 20. Hugo (II.) c. 965Hugh is known only from a charter of the foundation of the Priory of Saint-Georges-sur-Moulon Gallia christiana XI, p. 352. Fisquet, p. 20. Raoul d'Avranches (also, Radulfus, Radulphus; 986–1006)Radulfus, or Raoul "d'Avranches", was from Dol, but studied in Avranches. He was present at the dedication of the church of S. Trinité at Fécamp in 990. In 1006 a fire destroyed the cathedral of Bayeux, and Radulfus died shortly thereafter. Fisquet, p. 20.

1000 to 1300

Hugh de Bayeux 1011/1015–1049 Odo of Bayeux 1049–1097After the Conquest, Odo (sometimes called Odo or Eudes of Conteville) was also Earl of Kent. He founded seven prebends in the Cathedral Chapter. He died in February 1097, at Palermo in Sicily, while on crusade. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 353–360. Fisquet, pp. 21–32.