Ulphia was an 8th-century Christian saint who lived in the region of Amiens within the Frankish Kingdom. To avoid marriage, she reportedly pretended to be mentally unstable to discourage potential suitors. After receiving the veil from the Bishop of Amiens at age twenty-five, she lived as a hermit near Saint-Acheul. She spent much of her time caring for an elderly hermit named Domitius, who provided her with spiritual direction while she tended to his needs.
Hermitage life
While living in a marshy area, Ulphia faced constant noise from local frogs. According to legend, she placed these creatures under an interdict because their loud croaking prevented her from sleeping. Later in her life, she transitioned from solitary life to leading a community of religious women in Amiens.
Veneration and art
She is commemorated on January 31. Her memory is preserved in Amiens through a statue located on the north portal of the cathedral's west facade. Artistic depictions often show her as a young nun praying on a rock, sometimes accompanied by a frog in a nearby pool.