Eldrad, St.
ELDRAD, ST.
Abbot of Novalese in Piedmont; b. near Aix, Provence; d. March 13, 840–845. 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 1865–1908) 36 (1904) 424].
Feast: March 13.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum March 2 326–333. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis (Brussels 1898–1901) 1:2442–46. a. dumas, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912–) 15:129. de labriolle, Catholicisme 5:573–574.
[j. e. lynch]