 It was the oldest monastery in the Diocese of Toul but the circumstances surrounding its foundation are largely obscure.There seems no doubt however that it was indeed founded by Saint Evre himself while seventh bishop of Toul, who began the construction of a church dedicated to Saint Maurice of the Theban Legion, a saint whose cult was expanding, especially in this region, during the 6th century and to whom Evre had a particular devotion.After his death in 507, only the foundations had been constructed, and the buildings were finished by his immediate successor Albaut, eighth bishop of Toul.