Saint February 20 : St. Eucherius : Bishop of Orleans France

BENEDICTINE BISHOP OF ORLEANS

Feast: February 20

Information: Feast Day: February 20 Born: 687 AD, Orléans, France Died: 20 February 743

Benedictine Bishop of Orleans, France, exiled for opposing Charles Martel (r. 714-741), the famous and powerful mayor of the palace in the Frankish kingdom. Born in Orleans, Eucherius became a Benedictine at Jumieges about 714 and bishop in 721. He immediately set about protesting Charles Martel's seizure of Church properties. Charles exiled Eucherius to Cologne, Germany, where he became very popular as a result. Eucherius was then held captive in Liege, Belgium, but was allowed to retire to Saint-Trond Abbey near Maastricht, Netherlands, where he died in the monastery. Apparently, he was never reconciled with Charles. (Taken from Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints