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Origin and history

The church Saint-Ausit, officially dedicated to Saint Christine after having been associated with Saint Barthélémy, is a Catholic building located in the hamlet of Croûte, on the town of Lasserade (Gers, Occitanie). His name comes from a tomb containing the relics of a saint named Ausit, whose reputation was linked to the healing of earaches. This saint, whose name derives linguistically from "Saint Ovide" transformed into "Ausit" (meaning "heard" in Gascon), was invoked to treat hearing disorders. The church, built in the 12th century, was partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion before being restored in the 17th century. Its architecture preserves Romanesque elements, such as the main absidiole and lateral absidioles in the middle, while its square bell tower dates back to the 19th century.

Inside, carved capitals illustrate various patterns: vegetation, animals and religious scenes. The building seems to have maintained links with the former Tasque Abbey, located nearby. Classified as a historical monument in 1995, the church now belongs to the municipality of Lasserade. Its soil and structure are officially protected, stressing its heritage importance in Gers.

The sarcophagus of Saint Ausit, a central element of his history, attests to local devoted practices related to relics and healing cults. These beliefs reflect the importance of "specialized" saints in medieval and modern countryside, where churches served both as places of worship and as centres for spiritual and physical care. The full hanger door and the windows surrounding the entrance also remind of the Romanesque architectural influences, typical of the region before the later changes.

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