Saint of the Day – 7 June – Saint Deochar OSB (Died 847) Another Patron of the Blind and those with Eye Diseases

Saint of the Day – 7 June – Saint Deochar OSB (Died 847) Monk, Abbot, Hermit, Disciple and Spiritual Student of Blessed Alcuin, Founder of a Monastery and first Abbot in Herrieden, in modern Bavaria, Germany., Royal Messenger and as such, translated the Relics of the great St Boniface to Fulda, Germany. Born in the late 8th century, probably in Bavaria, Germany and died in 847 at his Abbey of Herriedon, Germany of natural causes. Patronages – of the blind and of those with eye diseases. Also known as – Deocarus, Deotker, Dietger, Gottlief, Theotgar, Theutger.

Deochar was a disciple of the blessed Alcuin at the Court of Emperor Charlemagne. He retired to solitude in Haserode (later Herrieden) as a Hermit. In around 782, Charlemagne built him a Chapel and later a Benedictine Monastery on the site opposite the Church in Herrieden, which Church, is dedicated to him today. Here, Deochare became a Monk and the first Abbot. In 793 King Charles visited Deochar and in 796 ,he sent his Court theologian, Alcuin to settle the Abbot’s difficulties with some of his Monks.

Since 802, Deochar was also a Royal Messenger and, therefore, in 819, he was involved, in the transfer of the Relics of the great St Boniface to Fulda. The first image above depicts this event.

In 829, Deochar headed the list of signatories to the Synod of Mainz, being an authority on Sacred Scripture and on the monastic rule,

 He died at an advanced age and received his final resting place in a Shrine in the Collegiate Church of St Vitus and St Deochar in Hasareoda / Herrieden. In 1316. a part of his Relics was transferred by King Ludwig as the spoils of victory, to the Chapel in the Church of St Lorenz in Nuremberg, now named after Deochar. In 1845 they came to Eichstätt . The part of the Relics brought by King Ludwig to his residence, the Alter Hof in Munich, was destroyed in World War II.

St Deochar’s Patronage of the blind relates to a famous miracle which occurred due to his prayer on behalf of a blind boy child, who was immediately cured.