Monastery of San Xoán de Caaveiro
Canonry of Caaveiro / San Juan de Caaveiro / Calavario
(A Capela, A Coruña)
This is an Augustinian canonry, the origin of which has been linked to Saint Rudesind of Celanova, who is believed to have organized this house based on an earlier eremitic establishment. Around the year 936, Rudesind made a donation in favor of this monastery, although the authenticity of the document that attests to it has been questioned. It is believed that at that time, the monastery may have been Benedictine, later transforming into a regular canonry.
It is assumed that the adoption of the Rule of Saint Augustine would have occurred with the arrival of Pedro, bishop of Mondoñedo, who, in 1111, retired to Caaveiro with a community of canons. This community is thought to have coexisted temporarily with the Benedictine one, perhaps until 1120, although some sources place this change much later. In 1147, there is evidence of a donation by Alfonso VII in favor of the monastery, and from that moment on, there are records of other similar documents containing donations and privileges granted by monarchs.
By the 15th century, the canonry had come under the patronage of the House of Andrade. The site acquired the status of a collegiate church, a title it retained until 1788 when, due to its state of decay, an attempt was made to relocate it to Ferrol. However, this operation was not carried out, and the site was left almost without a community. After the disentailment, the monastery passed into private hands, and the complex was significantly modified by its owner. Currently, it is public property and has been restored.
The monastery is located on very rugged terrain, on a rocky spur overlooking the Eume River. This orography influenced the construction of the monastic complex, which subsequently suffered the loss of much of its buildings. To this must be added the modifications and adaptations made by its owners. One of the two churches that existed has been preserved; the larger one, known as the collegiate church, has been lost, and the chapel that remains was rebuilt in the 19th century.
Plan of the canonry (1759)
- ANDRADE, José (1997). El monacato benedictino y la sociedad de la Galicia medieval (siglos X al XIII). Sada: O Castro
- ESTRAVIZ GARCÍA, Víctor (2024). Sociedad, producción y poder en el entorno de un dominio monástico: el monasterio de Caaveiro entre los siglos XI y XIII. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
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- GURRUCHAGA, Marina (1999). La fundación del monasterio de Caaveiro (La Coruña), nueva documentación. Faventia, núm. 21
- LÓPEZ FERREIRO, Antonio (1899). Historia de la Santa A. M. Iglesia de Santiago de Compostela. Santiago: Seminario Conciliar
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- PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ, José María; dir. (2013). Enciclopedia del románico en Galicia. A Coruña. Aguilar de Campoo: Fundación Santa María la Real
- PÉREZ RODRÍGUEZ, Francisco Javier (2008). Mosteiros de Galicia na Idade Media. Ourense: Deputación Provincial de Ourense
- SÁ BRAVO, Hipólito de (1972). El monacato en Galicia. Vol. 1. La Corunya: Librigal
The monastery is situated within the Fragas do Eume Natural Park, near the river and to the east of Pontedeume