Eucherius of Orléans

Who was Eucherius of Orléans?

Saint Eucherius of Orléans, nephew of Suavaric, bishop of Auxerre, was Bishop of Orléans.

Reading the letters of Paul the Apostle led Eucherius to seek the monastic life in 714, when he retired to the Abbey of Jumièges in the Diocese of Rouen. After seven years his uncle, Suavaric, Bishop of Orléans, died. The reputation of his virtue must have been very great, for a deputation was sent to Charles Martel, then mayor of the palace, who practically governed the Frankish Kingdom, to beg that Eucherius might be elected to the vacant see. Despite his dislike of the idea he consented to their request and became bishop in 721.

Having opposed the elevation of Charles Martel and the latter's confiscation of church property to fund his war efforts against the Moorish invasions from Al-Andalus, Eucherius found himself out of favor with the new Carolingian dynasty. When Charles Martel returned from his victory at the Battle of Tours, he stopped in Orléans and exiled Eucherius to Cologne. Eucherius retired to the monastery of St. Truiden, where he spent the remainder of his life in prayer and contemplation until his death in 743.