Ulphia
Encyclopedia
Ulphia of Amiens
(d. 8th century) is a saint
of the Catholic Church, venerated particularly at Amiens. She was said to be a young girl living on the banks of the Noye
who became a hermit
at Saint-Acheul
, near Amiens, under the spiritual direction of Saint Domitius
(Domice). At the end of her life, she formed and directed a community of religious women at Amiens. Her feast day
is January 31.
Legend states that Ulphe placed the frog
s in the area around her hermitage
(which was built in a swampy
area) under interdict
as a result of their loud croaking, which kept her awake at nights. Thus, in her iconography
, she is depicted as a young nun seated in prayer on a rock with a frog in the pool near her.
A 19th century hagiographer noted that the frogs in the area around the oratory
of Saint Ulphe were, indeed, very quiet. However, if these frogs were taken elsewhere, they became boisterous once again.
A statue of Ulphia stands in the portal of Amiens Cathedral
.
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
(d. 8th century) is a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Catholic Church, venerated particularly at Amiens. She was said to be a young girl living on the banks of the Noye
Noye
The Noye is a river in the Picardie region of northern France.The Noye is located in the northern part of the Picard plateau. It is the left tributary of the Avre river, which is itself a left tributary of the Somme River. The Noye starts near the commune of Vendeuil-Caply and extends to a length of...
who became a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
at Saint-Acheul
Saint-Acheul
Saint-Acheul is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France. It is not to be confused with Saint-Acheul, a suburb of Amiens after which the Acheulean archaeological culture of the Lower Paleolithic is named.-Geography:...
, near Amiens, under the spiritual direction of Saint Domitius
Saint Domitius
He is remembered for providing spiritual guidance to Saint Ulphia. Domitius is said to have been a deacon of the church of Amiens who lived on the banks of the Avre River.One of the statues in the portal of Amiens Cathedral has been identified as Domitius....
(Domice). At the end of her life, she formed and directed a community of religious women at Amiens. Her feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is January 31.
Legend states that Ulphe placed the frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s in the area around her hermitage
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
(which was built in a swampy
Swampy
Daniel Hooper is an environmental activist, sometimes characterised as an environmental protester or eco-warrior, from the United Kingdom...
area) under interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
as a result of their loud croaking, which kept her awake at nights. Thus, in her iconography
Saint symbology
Christianity has used symbolism from its very beginnings. Each saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life. Symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic...
, she is depicted as a young nun seated in prayer on a rock with a frog in the pool near her.
A 19th century hagiographer noted that the frogs in the area around the oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
of Saint Ulphe were, indeed, very quiet. However, if these frogs were taken elsewhere, they became boisterous once again.
A statue of Ulphia stands in the portal of Amiens Cathedral
Amiens Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens , or simply Amiens Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral and seat of the Bishop of Amiens...
.
External links