Chiaffredo

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Saint

Chiaffredo of Saluzzo
Roman Catholic Church
Major shrineCrissolo; Saluzzo
FeastSeptember 7
Attributesmilitary attire; sword; standard of red Mauritian cross on white field; elm tree; horse
PatronageSaluzzo

Chiaffredo (Chiaffredus, Theofredus, Ciafrè, Chaffre, Teofredo, Jafredo, Jafredus, Eufredus, Jofredus, Sinfredus, Zaffredus[1]) is venerated as the patron saint of Saluzzo, Italy. Tradition considers him a member of the Theban Legion, but instead of being martyred with this legion at Agaunum (in present-day Switzerland), he escaped to Piedmont and was martyred there.[2]

A 14th-century account relates that, around 522, a man fell from a precipice near

relics discovered by a peasant plowing in the vicinity - a discovery attributed to divine intervention.[2][3] The mysterious skeleton was given the name of “San Ciafrè” and the tomb became the focus of a celebrated sanctuary at Crissolo.[2]

The first documentary evidence pointing to a cult devoted to Chiaffredo dates from 1387, when

indulgences to those who visited the church at Crissolo and helped in its repair.[2] A late 16th century legend written down by Guglielmo Baldesano states that Chiaffredo or Teofredo, soldier of the Theban Legion, escaped to Piedmont to avoid sacrificing to pagan idols and was martyred at Crissolo around 270.[2] Fabio Arduino believes this story to have no historical foundation, as it would have been unlikely for a Roman legionary of the 3rd century to bear such a clearly Germanic name.[2] The name is a variant of Theudofridus, derived from the Germanic theuda- "people," and frithu- "peace."[4]

The

Tegulus at Ivrea, Magnus at Castelmagno, and Dalmatius at Borgo San Dalmazzo, the cult of Chiaffredo was linked with that of the Theban Legion to lend antiquity to a local saint about whom nothing was really known.[5]

In 1902, a scholar identified Chiaffredo as the 8th century figure

Muslim raiders and was also venerated in Piedmont.[2][6]

Tornabuoni,

translated to Revello in 1593,[7] and thence to the cathedral of Saluzzo in 1642. Constantius and Chiaffredo are depicted together in the altar of Saluzzo Cathedral.[2]

Chiaffredo enjoyed veneration in Piedmont; one English scholar has written that “beneath the shadow of

Due to his alleged

Coptic Church.[2] He is however, not mentioned explicitly in the Roman Martyrology, although this martyrology includes Maurice and the Theban Legion as a whole, without naming Chiaffredo specifically.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Mauritius van Agaunum". www.heiligen-3s.nl. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "San Chiaffredo di Saluzzo su santiebeati.it". Santiebeati.it. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  3. ^ "La Legione Tebea". www.cartantica.it. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  4. ^ "Slang Italian Words and Colloquial Expressions". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  5. ^ Pomi, Damiano (July 16, 2004). "San Magno". Santi e Beati. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  6. ^ "Theofred - Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon". www.heiligenlexikon.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  7. ^ "La cappella di San Biagio - Comune di Revello". Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  8. ^ The Academy: A Weekly Review of Literature, Science, and Art. January–June 1882. Volume XXI (London, 1882), 39.

External links