Johann Cyriacus Höfer

Johann Cyriacus Höfer (* around 1605 in Großwerther ; † February 1, 1667 in Kalkhorst ) was a German Protestant pastor and theological writer .

Live and act

Johann Cyriacus Höfer comes from a pastor's family who came from Thuringia to Mecklenburg through the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and has lived there for many generations. He matriculated in Rostock in 1623 and on August 10, 1630 in Königsberg as “ Cyriacus Höferus Northusanus Thuringus jur. ". On March 14, 1639 he was vocalized as pastor in Kalkhorst and on April 2, 1639 he signed the formula of the Agreement . Höfer worked in this position at the Kalkhorst village church for almost 28 years until his death.

Title page of Höfers Himmels-Weg , edition from 1763

Höfer was the author of several spiritual works, two of which achieved particular fame. His book, intended as an ethical-pedagogical work, was: " Himmelsweg, that is how a child can learn in 24 hours how to escape hell and be blessed " for several centuries as a bestseller and standard work in religious instruction and was made by Johann Günther ( 1660–1714), Christian Weise (1703–1743) and most recently in 1974 by Adalbert Brauer (1908–1990), constantly updated and reissued. In addition, Johann Cyriacus Höfer wrote a “Question Bible” as a supplement, which contains questions and answers on important biblical texts. For a long time this little book was also an indispensable part of confirmation lessons in the Mecklenburg parishes.

family

Johann Cyriacus Höfer, son of pastor Johannes Höfer (1565–1625) and Elisabeth Zerbst (1562–1625), was married twice, including to Sara Reiser (1636–1685), a granddaughter of the Lübeck lawyer Heinrich Reiser . Johann Cyriacus Höfer had several children and is also known to be the ancestor of the Russian revolutionary leader Lenin .

Fonts (selection)

Ask bible: In it a real lover of the divine word amused by questions and answers / and ... can make known. Ratzeburg auffm Dohm: Wetsteinische Druckerey 1666
Heaven's path / That is: How a child can learn in 24 hours / how it should escape hell / and be saved: Comprehended in itself 735. Questions and answers / Therein all articles of Christian teaching recently drawn together are. Leipzig: Butcher 1683

New edition (s) also under the title: Increased and improved Himmels-Weg, which not only gives the children the first letters of the Christian. Teaching ... can teach ... Leipzig: Fleischer 1692, several editions

literature

Günter Kruse: Pastor Johann Cyriacus Höfer and his family in Kalkhorst - an eventful life in troubled times ; in: From the pastor in Kalkhorst and from farmers in Loose. Rostock: Association for Mecklenburg Family and Personal History 2007, pp. 3–15
Adalbert Brauer: Johann Cyriacus Höfer, bestselling author of the 17th and 18th centuries , in: Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel , issue no. 30, A114-A120, Frankfurt, 1974
Hans-Thorald Michaelis : The Pomeranian family of learned Höfer , OFK 12 (1964), pp. 366-375

Individual evidence

↑ A matriculation of Johann Cyriacus Höfer at the University of Rostock cannot be proven on the basis of the university register. In 1682 there is an Andreas Höfer who, according to the DNB, is said to have been his son.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Höfer, Johann Cyriacus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German Protestant pastor and theological writer
DATE OF BIRTH	around 1605
PLACE OF BIRTH	Großwerther
DATE OF DEATH	February 1, 1667
Place of death	Kalkhorst

[1] A matriculation of Johann Cyriacus Höfer at the University of Rostock cannot be proven on the basis of the university register. In 1682 there is an Andreas Höfer who, according to the DNB, is said to have been his son.