THE ISLAND, M. POMPIDOU ARRIVING AND BEING GREETED BY THE MAYOR, AT A MASS IN THE ABBEY CELEBRATED BY THE ISLAND'S BISHOP, MGR GUYOT, SPEAKING TO A CROWD IN THE SQUARE OUTSIDE THE MONASTERY, AND THEN BENEDICTINE MONKS AT A SERVICE OF THEIR OWN IN THE BASILICA WITHIN THE MONASTERY.




Initials JT/V/BHH/SGM


EDITORS: SEE ALSO PROD. NO. 8668/65 (9 SEPT 65) SHOWING GENERAL SHOTS OF THE MONASTERY AND THE MONKS.

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Background: FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, THE HISTORIC MONASTERY ON THE ISLAND OF MONT ST.MICHEL, OFF THE NORMANDY COAST OF FRANCE, CELEBRATES THE 1000TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING.THE CELEBRATIONS WERE OPENED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE FRENCH MINISTER, M.GEORGES POMPIDOU, REPRESENTING DE GAULLE.

THE ISLAND HAS A CHEQUERED HISTORY.FIRST SETTLED BY BENEDICTINE MONKS, IT BECAME A FORTRESS DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND BRITAIN, A PRISON DURING REVOLUTIONARY TIMES, AND TODAY A POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION.

FOR THE OPENING CELEBRATIONS, BENEDICTINE MONKS CAME OVER FROM FRANCE TO JOIN OTHERS IN THE ORDER WHO RUN THE MONASTERY.LATER, TWENTY OF THEM WILL GO INTO ISOLATION FOR SIX MONTHS TO LIVE THE SAME LIFE AS THE FIRST BENEDICTINE SETTLERS A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.