Saint Bond was a hermit living in the Sens region during the late 6th or early 7th century. During the Merovingian era, he resided in a small hut atop the Paron hill. According to local tradition, he underwent a period of penance for a serious crime, which restricted his participation in church services. This period of seclusion ended on a Maundy Thursday when his penance was finally lifted during the divine liturgy.
Life and penance
While living in isolation, the local people were moved by his intense devotion. They eventually constructed a skete for him on the banks of the Yonne river. During his time of penance, Saint Artemius, a former bishop of Sens, gave him a withered staff. The saint's repentance was considered complete only when the wooden tip of this staff began to bud, which eventually occurred.
Veneration and legacy
Following his death, his reputation grew throughout the region. His skete and chapel were transformed into a priory in 1080. Although the site was damaged in 1567 and later suppressed, his relics were moved to the church of Saints Florence and Bond in Paron. His memory remains preserved through local place names, particularly in the area surrounding Paron.