Eldrad, St.

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ELDRAD, ST.

Abbot of Novalese in Piedmont; b. near Aix, Provence; d. March 13, 840845. Eldrad (Heldrade, Hildradus) was born of an aristocratic family. After a long pilgrimage through Spain and Italy he came to the flourishing Benedictine monastery of Saints. Peter and Andrew at Novalese, near Susa, province of Turin, a cultural center endowed with an excellent library. Elected abbot (c. 826), he ruled the monastery till his death. During his career, the abbey became a favored hospice, providing lodging for pilgrims crossing over the Alps into Italy. Two incidents of his tenure as abbot have been recorded: the gift of the monastery of Appagni by lothair i in 825, and Eldrad's successful negotiations with Count Boso of Turin in 827. His cult was approved in 1702, in 1821, and again in 1903 [Acta Sanctae Sedis (Rome 18651908) 36 (1904) 424].

Feast: March 13.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum March 2 326333. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis (Brussels 18981901) 1:244246. a. dumas, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912) 15:129. de labriolle, Catholicisme 5:573574.

[j. e. lynch]