Adela of Orp-⁠le-⁠Grand

Saint Adela of Orp-⁠le-⁠Grand (also called Adile) was a nun of the 7th century, venerated as a saint in the Western Church. She is commemorated locally on 30 June and, in our record, on 25 May.

She was the daughter of a Merovingian notable and received the monastic veil at the convent of Nivelles, recently founded by Itta (Iduberga), wife of Pepin the Elder, and her daughter Saint Gertrude. Around 640 she founded the priory of Orp-⁠le-⁠Grand. In the reign of King Childeric II the community grew, so Adela built in the valley an oratory dedicated to Saint Martin and moved her nuns there. A local tradition says that, having become blind, she miraculously recovered her sight.

She died around 670 and was buried in the crypt of the church of Saint Martin. Her relics are kept in a shrine at Orp-⁠le-⁠Grand, where each year on the first Sunday of October a procession is held in her honor. Places of worship are dedicated to her at Saint-⁠Géry, Fromiée, Brye and Hemptinne.