Bernhard (mission bishop)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bernhard worked as a mission bishop in Pomerania in 1121/1122 .

Lore

The only tradition on Bernhard is contained in the text The life of the bishop and confessor Otto , written by Ebo von Michelsberg from 1151 to 1159 .

According to this tradition, Bernhard originally came from Spain, was ordained bishop in Rome and belonged to an order of hermits in Italy . From there he traveled north with the desire to proselytize the pagan Pomorans . The Polish Duke Bolesław III. He asked Wrymouth for support for his mission. With the conquest of Stettin in 1121 he had just subjugated the Pomorans and therefore had an interest in their Christianization. He assessed Bernhard's chances of success as slim, but gave him a man to act as translator and guide.

In Pomerania, Bernhard, with his poor and humble demeanor, was not well received. Eventually he was put in a boat in Wollin , where there was a pagan sanctuary, and sent away with the recommendation that he should better preach "to the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky." Bernhard then returned to Duke Boleslaw III. back, who pointed out to him that he had predicted the failure of this missionary activity.

In November 1122 Bernhard was staying during a Hoftags Emperor Henry V in Bamberg . There he told of his unsuccessful mission trip. He encouraged Bishop Otto von Bamberg to do missionary work in Pomerania.

criticism

From the point of view of modern history, it must be doubtful whether the traditional report corresponds to the facts. In any case, the missionary work of Pomerania only succeeded Otto von Bamberg with his two mission trips carried out between 1124 and 1128.

It is believed that this Bernhard is identical with Bernhard I , the first bishop of Lebus .

literature

swell

The relevant bilingual edition of the Vita des Elbo von Michelberg is contained in:

  • Lorenz Weinrich (Ed.): Heiligenleben for German-Slavic history. Adalbert von Prag and Otto von Bamberg. Selected sources on German history in the Middle Ages. Volume 23. 1st edition. Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 2005, ISBN 3-534-01422-7 .

Secondary literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Martin Wehrmann: History of Pomerania . Volume 1. 2nd edition. Friedrich Andreas Perthes, Gotha 1919, p. 60.
  2. ^ Rudolf Benl, in: Werner Buchholz (Ed.): German history in Eastern Europe. Pomerania . Siedler Verlag, Berlin 1999, p. 25.
personal data
SURNAME Bernhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Mission Bishop in Pomerania
DATE OF BIRTH before 1121
DATE OF DEATH after 1122