ÉVROUL OF SAINT-FUSCIENAU-BOIS, ST.

Abbot; b. Beauvais, France, sixth century; d. near Oroër, France, July 25c. 600. His dates are not at all certain, and it has been maintained by some scholars that his activity should be placed a full century later. Reputedly, Évroul (Ebrulf or Evroult) was promoted to sacred orders by the bishop of Beauvais because of his exemplary conduct. Some reports claim that the monks at Saint-Fuscienau-Bois petitioned that he be appointed their abbot, but other accounts say that royal influence determined the appointment. These uncertainties stem from the fact that this Évroul has at times been confused with Évroul (ebrulf) of Ouche; a vita written centuries after the saint's lifetime contributes little of solid historical evidence. Local tradition reports that Évroul died on his way to Oroër and was buried there, but later (838) his relics were taken to the cathedral in Beauvais. His cult became popular at an early date in the areas in which he had lived and worked.

Feast: July 25; July 27 in Beauvais.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum July 6:192–198. a. m.. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum: Die Heiligen und Seligen des Benediktinerorderns und seiner Zweige, 4 v. (Metten 1933–38) 2:505. p. viard, Catholicisme 4:855; Bibliotheca sanctorum (Rome 1961–) 4:892–893. l. h. cottineau, Répertoire topobibliographique des abbayes et prieurés (Mâcon 1935–39) 2:2683. Gallia Christiana, v.1–13 (Paris 1715–85), v.14–16 (Paris 1856–65) 10: 1302. t. de morembert, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912) 16:220–221.

[h. dressler]