Chiaffredo | |
|---|---|
 Miniature of SaintsMaurice and Theofredus (Chiaffredo), attributed to Frate Nebridio da Cremona, c. 1460–1480 | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | Egypt |
| Died | 286 Crissolo,Italy |
| Venerated in | Coptic Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodox Churches Roman Catholic Church |
| Majorshrine | Crissolo; Saluzzo |
| Feast | September 7 |
| Attributes | military attire; sword; standard of red Mauritian cross on white field; elm tree; horse |
| Patronage | Saluzzo |
Chiaffredo (alsoChiaffredus, Theofredus, Ciafrè, Chaffre, Teofredo, Jafredo, Jafredus, Eufredus, Jofredus, Sinfredus, Zaffredus[1]) is venerated as thepatron saint ofSaluzzo,Italy.
Tradition considers him a member of theTheban Legion, but instead of being martyred with this legion atAgaunum (in present-daySwitzerland), he escaped toPiedmont and was martyred there.[2]
A 14th-century account relates that, around 522, a man fell from a precipice nearCrissolo but remained unharmed. The local population attributed his being unharmed torelics 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, whenAvignon Pope Clement VII grantedindulgences 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 clearlyGermanic name.[2] The name is a variant of Theudofridus, derived from the Germanictheuda- "people," andfrithu- "peace."[4]
Thesepulcher identified as Chiaffredo's burial place may have been a tomb ofpagan origins.[2] Similar to the cults ofConstantius atCrissolo,Bessus atVal Soana,Tegulus atIvrea,Magnus atCastelmagno, andDalmatius atBorgo 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 figureTheofredus (Chaffre, Theofrid, Teofredo), abbot of Le Monastier nearPuy-en-Velay, who was killed byMuslim raiders and was also venerated in Piedmont.[2][6]
Tornabuoni,bishop of Saluzzo, declared Chiaffredo patron of his diocese during a synod of 1516, withConstantius (San Costanzo) as co-patron.[2] Chiaffredo's relics weretranslated toRevello 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 ofMonte Viso, San Chiaffredo, a runaway apostle of the Theban legion, has usurped the worship paid in old time to the river-godEridanus..."[8]
Due to his allegedTheban origins, he is venerated by theCoptic Church.[2] He is however, not mentioned explicitly in theRoman Martyrology, although this martyrology includes Maurice and the Theban Legion as a whole, without naming Chiaffredo specifically.[2]
