St. Theofrid (Chaffre) of Orange

Feastday: October 19
Death: 732

Theofrid, of Orange, France, became abbot of the monastery of Calmeliac, near Le Puy. When in 732 Moorish invaders advancing across southern France drew near Calmeliac, Theofrid instructed the other monks to flee into the forest and hide there. As for himself, he resolved to remain near the monastery, having explained, "It is not fitting that in a time of persecution the shepherd should flee." Two of the other monks insisted upon remaining with him. After raiding the monastery and finding it deserted, the Moors discovered Theofrid nearby, prostrate in prayer. They thereupon dragged him away and beat him. Theofrid told his attackers, "It is fitting to suffer for the sheep, and by our death save them." In the end, one of the Moors gravely wounded Theofrid in the head with a stone. But scarcely had the abbot fallen to the ground when the earth quaked and "a very dark storm cloud" overshadowed the scene, unleashing a barrage of lightning, hail, and a tornado that dispelled the attackers. The other monks returned to find Theofrid still alive, but close to death. He died seven days later.

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Another St. Theofrid (or Théofroy) was a 7th-century monk at Luxeuil who became abbot of Corbie and a bishop.

See also Thiofrid of Echternach.

Saint Theofrid (Chaffre, Theofredus, Theofred, Théofroy) of Orange (or of Carmery) (d. 728 or 732 AD) was an abbot of Calmeliac or Carmery-en-Velay (later called Saint-Chaffre, and today Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille), which is situated near Le Puy-en-Velay and was founded by Saint Calminius.

A native of Orange, he is venerated as a martyr, as Christian tradition holds that he was killed by Muslim raiders who had crossed into southern France.

Tradition states that the circumstances of his death are as follows: when the raiders neared Calmeliac, Theofrid ordered the other monks to hide in the forest. He remained near the monastery and was found in prayer, and was dragged away and mortally wounded in the head with a stone.

Abbey Church of Saint-Chaffre, Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille.

The legend further states that after Theofrid fell to the group, the earth shook and a dark storm cloud unleashed lightning, hail, and winds that dispersed the raiders. Theofrid died seven days later.

Veneration

His cult spread in Southern France during the 11th century. In Piedmont, his cult was confused with that of the legendary member of the Theban Legion, Chiaffredo (Theofredus, Teofredo).