Wera of Utrecht

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Wera (Wiro) as mission bishop; Stained glass window in the Basilica of St. Wiro, Plechelm and Otger , Sint Odiliënberg

Wera von Utrecht , also Wiro von Roermond (possibly also identical with Vira von Northumbria ; † around 753 ), is venerated as a saint of the Catholic Church. He is said to be identical to the second bishop of the diocese of Utrecht .

Life

Like other Christian missionaries in the Frankish Empire, he came from Anglo-Saxons . He was probably a monk and was possibly close to the first bishop of Utrecht Willibrord . He is said to have been ordained bishop of Utrecht by Boniface in 739 or 741 . Allegedly, he was even consecrated bishop by the Pope in Rome.

According to a legend that originated in the 9th century, he is said to have spread Christianity together with the deacon Otger and the priest Plechelm on the Lower Rhine and the Maas . Pippin II is said to have given him lands near Roermond . Afterwards he is said to have founded the Sint Odiliënberg monastery together with his companions .

It is unclear to what extent the vita reflects historical events. It is clear that the monastery was founded towards the end of the 7th century. Possibly he is identical with the missionary Bishop Vira of Northumbria. This is mentioned by Alkuin , among others .

Adoration

Reliquary of hll. Wiro, Plechelm and Otger in St. Odilienberg

An early veneration of Wera began in Roermond together with his two companions. After the monastery he had founded was moved to Roermond, the relics also came to the city in the 14th century, where they were lost during the Reformation . Since it was found again in the 16th century, a feast day has been celebrated to commemorate this event. In 1881, the original grave was found in the former monastery and most of the bones were transferred there.

Wera's feast day is May 8th. He is venerated in Roermond on May 11th. His skull had been in Utrecht since the Middle Ages and Wera was venerated as the patron saint of the diocese. Since 1559 he has been the patron saint of Holland and later also of the diocese of Roermond. Pilgrimages to his grave still take place today.

literature

Web links

Commons : depictions of St. Wiro in the Basilica of St. Odilienberg  - collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Willibrord Bishop of Utrecht
739–752 		Eoban
personal data
SURNAME Wera of Utrecht
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wiro of Roermond, Vira of Northumbria
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Missionary, bishop and saint
DATE OF BIRTH 7th century or 8th century
DATE OF DEATH at 753