Hermann von Holten

Hermann von Holten († October 20, 1572 ) was abbot of the Werden and Helmstedt monasteries from 1540 to 1572 .

Hermann von Holten came from Holten and his family name was Kellenberch. He was the preferred candidate of the late Abbot Johannes von Groningen as his successor. Although he was the youngest of the monks, he successfully exercised the office of novice master . In 1540 Hermann was ordained abbot in Cologne , but his inauguration did not take place until 1542.

The chalice of St. Liudger

As a result of the turmoil of the Reformation , the economically prosperous abbeys got into trouble and for fear of the Reformation iconoclasm , Hermann brought the most important treasures of the Helmstedt Monastery to Werden in 1547, especially the Helmstedt Cross, venerated as a relic of Charles, and the so-called chalice of St. Liudger .

Abbot Hermann von Holten was unable to prevent the Reformation from advancing in either Helmstedt or Werden. When the abbot, who was concerned about harmonization , wanted to appoint the Reformation-minded monk Paulus Bruyn ¹ as coadjutor in Werden, a dispute arose in the convent . As a result of the controversy, the Bursfeld Congregation and Duke Wilhelm V had to intervene and uncover maladministration and the finances of the abbey.

Weak and after a long illness, Abbot Hermann von Holten died on October 20, 1572.

Remarks

¹Probably a son of the Renaissance painter Bartholomäus Bruyn the Elder

literature

• Heinrich Engel: Ruhr Christians. History and stories of Ludgerus and the Liudgeriden, of imperial abbots and pastors in Werden an der Ruhr. Schmitz, Essen 1997, ISBN 3-932443-04-7 .

predecessor	Office	successor
John of Groningen	Abbot of Werden and Helmstedt 1540–1572	Heinrich Duden