14th Cistercian Culture Day

Martyrdom in the Cistercian Tradition

To mark the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine, Cîteaux Mater Nostra – ARCCIS is organising a series of events on the theme of martyrdom in the Cistercian tradition. These will take place on 8, 9 and 10 May 2026 at Cîteaux Abbey.

The event, which follows on from the ‘Cistercian Culture Days’ organised regularly by ARCCIS since 2005, is aimed at a wide audience. Anyone wishing to learn more about Cistercian life is welcome to attend.

To register or for further information, please contact Cîteaux Mater Nostra-ARCCIS (secretariat@arccis.org).

For those who wish, accommodation is available at the Cîteaux guesthouse, subject to availability. Please contact the guesthouse manager directly (hotelier@citeaux-abbaye.com), specifying that you are attending the Cistercian Culture Days.

PROGRAMME

Friday 8 May, the liturgical memorial of the Martyrs of Algeria

7.30 pm: Screening of the film “Des hommes et des dieux” (“Of Men and Gods”)

(directed by Xavier Beauvois, 2010)

Saturday 9 May, study day: ‘Martyrdom through the Cistercian tradition’

Morning:

7.30 am: Lauds and Mass

9 am: Welcome by Dom Pierre-André Burton (Abbot of Cîteaux and President of CMN-ARCCIS)

9.30–11.15 am: Discussion on the film “Of Men and Gods” with Henry Quinson (monastic advisor to Xavier Beauvois, the film’s director)

11.30 am–12.30 pm: The Brothers of Tibhirine. Witnesses through their fidelity to God in monastic life, by Dom Armand Veilleux (former Procurator of the OCSO and Abbot Emeritus of Scourmont)

12.30 pm: Sext

Afternoon:

2.15–2.45 pm: The place of the martyrs in Chrysostome Henríquez’s *Menologium Cistertiense*, by Éric Delaissé (PhD in History, Art and Archaeology [Leuven] – CMN-ARCCIS)

2.45–3.15 pm: From conversion to gift: Siméon Cardon and the martyrs of Casamari (1799), by Father Bertrand (diocesan priest)

3.15–3.45 pm: The Blessed Gervais-Protais BRUNEL, Trappist, and Augustin-Joseph DESGARDIN (Brother Elie), monk of Sept-Fons; martyrs on the pontoons of Rochefort, by Father Yves Blomme (diocesan priest)

4.15–4.30 pm: Break

4.30 pm–5.00 pm: Yangjiaping, a place of Trappist remembrance, by Thomas Coomans (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

5.00 pm–5.30 pm: Tibhirine, a place of sharing and listening, by Brother Yves Raymond (Chemin-Neuf Community, Tibhirine)

5.45–6.15 pm: Conclusions, by Dom Olivier Quenardel (Abbot Emeritus of Cîteaux) and Louise Pitoizet (historian – CMN-ARCCIS)

6.30 pm: Vespers

Sunday 10 May

7.30 am: Lauds

10.30 am: Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline

2.15 pm: None

2.45–4.00 pm: The martyrdom of Christians today and the witness of the Tibhirine monks, by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (public lecture in the abbey church)

https://www.arccis.org/