Elias of Cortona

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Elias of Cortona (also Elias of Assisi or Latinized Helyas de Assisi ; * around 1180 in Assisi or Cortona , † April 22, 1253 in Cortona) was an early companion of St. Francis of Assisi , during his last years his vicar and later the second Minister General of the Franciscans . He was the site manager for the construction of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi.

During Elias' tenure as general minister, his decisions met with strong opposition from supporters of the stricter direction of the order ( spirituals ), so that he resigned in 1239. Later Elias, who had previously held a position of trust in the Curia as the papal legate, sided with Emperor Frederick II , which resulted in the ban on church . He settled in the imperial Cortona , built a Franciscan church there and only reconciled with the church shortly before his death in 1253. The representation of Elijah of Cortona in the sources is, due to his controversial role in the poverty struggle of the Franciscans, strongly influenced by the opinion of the author, so that an unadulterated biography is difficult to reconstruct today.

Origin and youth

The evidence of Elias' origin is unclear and partisan. There is not even agreement on his baptismal name. Both Cortona and Beviglie Castle near Assisi claim the honor of being Elias' birthplace. He is always called Elias of Assisi in the early writings, the name of Elias of Cortona does not appear until the 17th century. Salimbene writes that his mother came from Assisi, his father from Castelbritti near Bologna. According to this source, Elias practiced his father's craft as a mattress maker and taught children in Assisi to read the Psalter . Later he studied law in Bologna and worked there as a notary or clerk. However, like Francis himself, he was not a cleric .

However, other sources also suggest that Elias came from Cortona. When his grave was opened in 1651, a metal plate with an inscription was found that said:
Hic iacet Frater Helias Coppi de Cortona Primus Generalis Ordinis Minorum Obiit MCCLIII
Translation: Here lies Brother Elias Coppi of Cortona, first general of the Order of Friars Minor, he died 1253.
According to Helmut Feld, the Coppi family can be found in Cortona as early as the 13th century; they also owned the Orsaia estate, which could be the place of birth. According to the legend of Blessed Guido, Francis preached in Cortona and won Guido de Porta Colonia, Vito and Elias as the first confreres. The new brothers built a hermitage in Le Celle in 1211. This area previously belonged to the family of brother Elias. Basili cites a notarial document from 1301. Johannes Schlageter denies his descent from the Coppi family, but gives no reasons for this. Salimbene, who knew Elias well, calls his name Bonibarone or Bonusbaro, which can be translated as “good guy” or “idiot”. Basili considers this information to be falsified. A name change from Bonusbaro to Elias is unbelievable because a name change was not common in the order at that time. Helmut Feld suggests that the name Bonusbaro could also have been a nickname or nickname.

Newer source-critical literature tends more towards the origin of Elijah from Assisi. From today's perspective, the incompatible contradicting information can no longer be resolved with certainty.

His life with Francis

At the age of about 35, he probably became one of the first companions of St. Francis , but remained like this layman. In 1217 he moved with the first brothers to Syria on his behalf in order to found a religious province there. The first reliable testimonies about his life come from this time. In Syria he took on his later opponent Caesarius von Speyer . His great organizational talent was already evident in the office of Provincial. Three years later he returned from the Orient with Francis. In 1221 he became his vicar general. He kept this office until the death of Francis of Assisi in 1226 and temporarily took over the leadership of the order.

Construction manager of the Church of San Francesco

Together with the responsible Cardinal Ugolino, later Pope Gregory IX. , Cortona tried to soften the poverty ideal of the founder of the order. So he took the side of the "fratres de communitate". This was also evident in the construction plans for a basilica in Assisi, which he wanted to build as a church of the Holy Sepulcher. With the Pope's permission, he gave the Order a piece of land for this purpose and began to collect money for the construction. This met with displeasure with the stricter direction in the order, the “ spirituals ” or “ fratizelles ”. Therefore they pushed through the election of John of Parenti as Minister General at the General Chapter in 1227 .

Nevertheless, Cortona continued its construction work. In 1228, the day after the founder of the order was canonized, the foundation stone was laid for the basilica, the construction of which took less than two years. It is still unclear how Cortona was able to transfer the bones of the saint there before the church was consecrated. At the Pentecost chapter in 1230 he apparently tried to become Minister General by force with his followers. But the coup failed, whereupon he should have started a penitent life.

General Minister

In any case, two years later he was elected to succeed Parenti, "magis tumultuose quam canonice", as a contemporary witness put it. In his administration he refused to convene a chapter or visit a province. Instead, he sent “visitators” to collect money to complete the church and convention in Assisi. He had critics whipped, deported or imprisoned. At the same time he was said to have a lavish lifestyle. The opposition grew. It was organized by his later successor in office Haymo von Faversham and by Caesarius von Speyer , who addressed himself to Pope Gregory IX. turned. In 1239, he convened a general chapter, headed it personally and forced Cortona to resign.

Break with the Pope and the Order

The Chapter elected Albert of Pisa General Minister as his successor . Elias seemed to have continued his construction activity afterwards, but then withdrew to Cortona. He openly changed sides and sided with Emperor Friedrich II , whereupon Cortona withdrew from the church in 1240 . Later he is said to have asked the Pope for forgiveness in a letter that was found on the death of Albert of Pisa.

After the death of his successor Faversham in 1244 a chapter was convened in Genoa. A request from Pope Innocent IV to appear there, Cortona did not comply and was again excommunicated. Frederick II sent him as an envoy to Constantinople and Cyprus. The people of Cortona support him in building a church and a convent. When John of Parma became General Minister in 1247 , Cortona turned down an offer of reconciliation.

Death and aftermath

After the death of his protector Friedrich II. In 1250, the aged Cortona became seriously ill himself three years later. Holy Saturday 1253 he received absolution, but no longer the anointing of the sick. He died on Easter Tuesday and was buried in Cortona in the church that he himself had built. Two years later, his followers reconciled with the order. But the remains of Cortona were no longer tolerated in the church.

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b Salimbene de Adam: Chronicle of the Brothers
  2. ↑ Thomas von Eccleston: The Arrival of the Friars Minor in England. 1258/59
  3. ↑ a b quoted from: Helmut Feld: Franziskus von Assisi and his movement. Scientific Book Society Darmstadt, 1994. p. 336
  4. ^ A b D. Basili: Superfrate
  5. ^ A b Johann Schlageter in: LThK 3rd edition, special edition 2006
personal data
SURNAME Elias of Cortona
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Elias of Assisi; Helyas de Assisi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Minister General of the Franciscans
DATE OF BIRTH around 1180
PLACE OF BIRTH Beviglie Castle near Assisi
DATE OF DEATH April 22, 1253
Place of death Cortona