Martin Weiher

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Martin Weiher (also: Martin von Weiher ) (* 1512 in Leba , Lauenburg / Pommern district ; † June 8, 1556 in Köslin ) was a Lutheran theologian and bishop of Cammin in Pomerania .

Life

Martin Weiher came from the noble family von Weiher in the Pomerania . He was the second son of Claus von Weiher on Leba and Sophie von Ramel . Determined for his spiritual status, he attended school in Stolp and was enrolled at the University of Wittenberg on May 1, 1534 .

Martin Weiher was a student of Philipp Melanchthon , with whom he later exchanged letters and lived temporarily in Martin Luther's house . The award of a benefice by Duke Barnim IX. von Pomerania in 1535 enabled him to travel and continue his studies in Bologna . He then returned to Pomerania, where he belonged to the Camminer cathedral chapter in 1549 . After Bartholomäus Suawe resigned from the office of Bishop of Cammin, Martin Weiher was elected as his successor on July 29, 1549. The Pomeranian dukes approved this election on May 1, 1550. Surprisingly, Weiher soon got in touch with the Pope and even had Pope Julius III on October 5, 1551 . confirm his election as bishop. In this confirmation ("Confirmation") the Pope designated him as the rightful successor of Erasmus von Manteuffel-Arnhausen , the last pre-Reformation bishop of Cammin. After his death in 1544, Suawe took over the office of the first Lutheran bishop of Cammin.

Martin Weiher, so now Lutheran bishop with papal approval, settled on October 6, 1551 allow the Pope that he, only the lower ecclesiastical orders had received the consecration of a bishop of the Roman Church with the assistance of two or three other bishops was allowed to take the oath of allegiance on a given form and report about it to the Pope.

On October 20, 1551, however, the responsible cardinal released him - as he lived "in partibus inferioris Saxonie Lutheraniae heresi plurimum infecti" - from the obligation to two or three bishops and only required the presence of an abbot at the consecration. Finally, on October 31, 1551, Pope Julius III. Bishop Weiher has the authority to perform priestly ordinations.

During his time as bishop, the church visits introduced by the Lutheran side began in 1554 and 1555 . Despite his close connection to the Pope, Weiher did not prevent it from being carried out, but on the contrary even carried it out himself, but forbade the clergy to curse the Pope and “other saints”. During these visitations, Weiher repeatedly emphasized the validity of the “Pomeranian Church Regulations ” , written by Johannes Bugenhagen and adopted by the Treptow Landtag in 1534 in Treptow an der Rega . Weiher also asked the pastors of his diocese to preach “pure teaching”. According to the Lutheran opinion of the time, pilgrimages were considered idolatry . On the other hand, Weiher responded to the complaints of clergymen that fewer and fewer believers were making a will in favor of the church, with the accusation that the pastors themselves were to blame, as they fought the Roman "doctrine of good works" in their sermons.

In 1556 the "geele bishop", as he was called because of his pale complexion, which was due to an illness, died. The office of bishop was now transferred to Johann Friedrich , the 14-year-old son of Duke Philip I of Pomerania-Wolgast. He was chosen by the Camminer cathedral chapter at the insistence of the Pomeranian ducal house. From this point on, members of the ducal house held the Camminer episcopate as secular bishops; Several (general) superintendents acted as spiritual leaders for the whole of Pomerania .

Martin Weiher's theological and ecclesiastical position was ambiguous. His person once again made it clear what problems and also concessions the church in Pomerania had to do with during the Reformation. After Suawes' departure, Emperor Charles V had actually wanted to have Johannes Agricola , the “confabricator interimi” elected as Bishop of Cammin, but the Bishop of Arras , Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle , had campaigned for the pond he was friends with.

literature

See also

predecessor Office successor
Bartholomew Suawe Bishop of Pomerania
1549 - 1556 		Johann Friedrich von Pommern-Wolgast
Georg Venetus
personal data
SURNAME Weiher, Martin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Weiher, Martin von; Weyher, Martin; Weyher, Martin von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Lutheran theologian and Bishop of Cammin
DATE OF BIRTH 1512
PLACE OF BIRTH Leba
DATE OF DEATH June 8, 1556
Place of death Koslin