Hidulf

Hildulf (died 707) was an abbot, founder of Moyenmoutier Abbey, and reputed bishop of Trier. He is a Catholic and Orthodox saint. His feast day is 11 July.

Narrative

There are three biographies (Vitae Hidulphi), all from the 11th century, which contradict each other on a number of points. There is little doubt about his founding of Moyenmoutier, but the three subsequent hagiographies are suspect in the eyes of historians. While acknowledging that some authors place Hildulf's birthplace in Belgium or Bavaria, hagiographer John O'Hanlon lists him with the Irish saints.

Hildulf was born sometime in the early 6th century to a noble family, possibly in Bavaria. He is said to have had two brothers, Saints Albert and Erhard of Regensburg. Hildulf was sent to Regensburg to complete his studies.

He was a friend of Saint Deodatus, who had previously been bishop of Nevers in France, but had since retired to solitude. Deodatus had founded a monastery for Augustinian canons, which was later named Saint-Dié (Sancti Deodati). After his death, Hildulf took over as abbot of the monastery. Many scholars believe that this connection is unlikely. Some sources believe that he was probably not a diocesan bishop, but a chorepiscopus, that is, an auxiliary bishop without a fixed episcopate, but associated with the monastery of St Maximinus in Trier, (which was dissolved during the French Revolution).

Hildulf was invoked in nervous diseases. He is listed in the Martyrologium Romanum (2004) for July 11.