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Saint Eucherius of Orléans

statue of Saint Eucherius (?), date and artist unknown; 18th century building, part of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Trudo in Sint-Truiden, Belgium; photographed on 11 July 2013 by Kleon3; swiped from Wikimedia Commons Also known as

Euchaire
Eucher
Eucherio

Memorial

20 February
11 August (enshrinement of relics in Sint-Truiden, Belgium)

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Born to the nobility, Eucherius was a very pious in youth, and highly educated; legend says that his pregnant mother had a dream of an angel who told her that her unborn son would be a holy bishop, and blessed them both. He took the cowl in Jumièges, Normandy, France in 714. When his uncle Suaveric, bishop of Orleans, France, died, the clergy and faithful asked for Eucherius as his replacement. Eucherius fought the appointment, but finally agreed c.721.

He was an active, evangelizing bishop who often visited the monasteries in his diocese. When Charles Martel confiscated Church property to finance his war against the Saracens, Eucherius protested. After his victory, Martel exiled the reluctant bishop to Cologne, Germany. There he was greeted enthusiastically, even receiving the position of distributor of the governor‘s alms. He was then exiled to Hesbaye in modern Belgium where he retired to the monastery of Sint-Truiden.