Wilfrid (Bishop, Northumbria)

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Wilfrid (also Wilfrith, Uilfrid, Wilfrið, Wilfriþ, Wilferð, Wilferþ etc .; * around 634; † 709/710) was one of the most important people in the British church history of the late 7th century . His life was dominated by the dispute between Celtic and Roman influences in the Anglo-Saxon Church . In his capacity as abbot and bishop he exercised great political influence. After his death he was venerated as a saint .

Icon of St. Wilfrid

Life

Origin and upbringing

Monasteries and dioceses (underlined) in northern England around 670

Wilfrid was born in Northumbria around 634 to an insignificant nobleman. At the age of about 14 he was sent to the court of the Northumbrian king Oswiu (642-670). On the intercession of Queen Eanflæd , he was educated for a few years in Lindisfarne Monastery . There the monk Cudda, a former follower of Oswius, was his teacher. Then Eanflæd helped Wilfrid on his pilgrimage to Rome by asking her cousin Earconberht I , the King of Kent , to arrange for Wilfrid's further journey. Wilfrid stayed in Kent for about a year. There he met the Northumbrian Benedict Biscop , with whom he finally set off on the pilgrimage to Rome.

First trip to Rome

Around 653 Wilfrid and Biscop reached Lyon , where they separated. Biscop continued the trip, while Wilfrid stayed as a guest with Bishop Aunemund (also Dalfinus). According to the chronicler Eddius Stephanus, the bishop is said to have offered him the hand of his niece and the governorship in a Franconian province, which Wilfrid is said to have refused and instead continued his pilgrimage.

In Rome, the buildings, ceremonies and relics made a deep impression on him. Every day he visited the shrines of the saints and developed a strong devotion to the apostles Peter and Andrew . Before Andreas altar in St. Peter's Basilica , he promised himself to be a preacher. The teachings of Archdeacon Bonifacius, who brought him into contact with the Roman tradition, which opposed the Celtic tradition, were also formative. This concerned, among other things, the calculation of the Easter date and the monk tonsure . After meeting the Pope in an audience, he made his way back to Lyon with numerous relics. There he stayed for three years, received the tonsure and further instruction in the Roman rite. The stay in Aunemund's environment shaped Wilfrid's idea of ​​the status and authority of a bishop. In the autumn of 658 Wilfrid returned to England.

Abbot of Ripon Abbey

Around 658 Ealhfrith (655–664), Oswius' son, had founded an Irish-Scottish monastery in Ripon . Abbot Eata and Cuthbert , the first prior , were among the first monks to settle there. Ealhfrith, who grew up with the Iro-Scottish rite , came into contact with the southern kingdoms, which followed the Roman rite , not only through his mercian wife Cyneburg , but also as a regulus (sub-king) . He was on friendly terms with Cenwalh (642–672 / 673), the king of the Gewissæ .

Through Cenwalhs intercession, Wilfrid came to the court of Ealhfrith around 658, who soon came under the influence of the charismatic "Roman" cleric. Around 661 Ealhfrith became a follower of the Roman rite and handed over the Ripon monastery and extensive lands to Wilfrid, who was abbot there until 665. Wilfrid immediately introduced the Roman liturgy and the Regula Benedicti . Since he thereby displaced the Iro-Scottish rite, the Irish monks avoided the reformer. Eata and Cuthbert had to return to Melrose with the other followers of the Iro-Scottish rite. Wilfrid brought Tondbehre and Ceolfrith from Gilling Abbey instead . In 663 Wilfrid was ordained a priest by Agilbert , the Franconian bishop of Gewissæ.

Whitby Synod

In 664 the Synod of Whitby was convened at Ealhfrith's instigation . He was probably less concerned with religious issues than with weakening his father's position and strengthening his own power. Oswiu and Bishops Chad of York and Colman represented the Iro-Scottish rite, while Ealhfrith, Wilfrid and Bishop Agilbert represented the Roman Catholic position. The main disputes were the correct calculation of the Easter date and the monks' tonsure. Wilfrid appeared at the synod as an energetic advocate of the Roman rite, making friends and enemies as well. Colman then resigned his offices and went with the followers of the Iona -Scottish tradition to the monastery of Iona in Scotland.

A plaque in Hexham Abbey names Wilfrid as the founder
Crypt in Hexham

Bishop of York

Consecration and Exile

When Colman's successor Tuda von Lindisfarne died of the plague in 664, King Ealhfrith moved the bishopric to York and put Wilfrid through as bishop. It is unclear whether he wanted to establish his own bishopric in his lower kingdom and sought the solution from the supremacy of Oswius. As there were not enough bishops for a valid ordination in England due to the plague, Wilfrid von Oswiu and Ealhfrith received permission to travel to the Frankish Empire for his ordination . The ceremony took place with great pomp in the Merovingian royal palace Compiègne and was presided over by his friend Agilbert and eleven other bishops.

On his return in 666 he was shipwrecked and was able to escape to the Sussex coast , where he barely managed to escape the local residents who wanted to kill him. When Wilfrid returned to Northumbria in 666, the situation had completely changed: his patron Ealhfrith had disappeared from the political scene and Chad of York had been installed as bishop . Wilfrid had to retire to his monastery in Ripon for three years. From this base he served as bishop in Mercia until 669 . King Wulfhere (658–675) gave him large estates on which he built monasteries. During the vacancy of the Archdiocese of Canterbury , Wilfrid also took over episcopal duties in the Kingdom of Kent during his exile between 667 and 669 and was an advisor to King Egberht .

First term as Bishop of York

Theodore (668-690), the Archbishop of Canterbury , declared in 669 that Wilfrid was the rightful Bishop of York, which led to the resignation of Chads and the reinstatement of Wilfrid. Chad was ordained Bishop Mercias by Theodore and established his episcopal see in Lichfield . The years up to 678 were Wilfrid's most successful and show his goals and ideals particularly clearly. He had York Cathedral completely rebuilt, stained glass windows inserted, plastered and decorated. In Ripon he had St. Peter built as one of the first stone churches in England, on whose place the current cathedral stands. The consecration of the church was attended by King Ecgfrith (664–685) of Northumbria and his brother Ælfwine (670–679) of Deira.

In 672, Queen Æthelthryth gave Wilfrid a large estate near Hexham , on which he had the important Hexham Abbey , dedicated to St. Andrew, built. The abbey and basilica aroused the admiration of contemporaries with their splendid furnishings. The crypts for the relics, which were new for England, were probably modeled on the catacombs Wilfrid had seen on his travels. Works by Anglo-Saxon scribes, such as the Gospel made for Ripon with golden letters on purple pages, testify to the Franconian-Roman influence on Wilfrid and the English Church. In the liturgy, Wilfrid introduced the alternating song of two choirs based on the Roman model and introduced the Regula Benedicti in the monasteries under his control. As one of the first clerics in England he had donations to the Church recorded in charters . Years in the charters were first made with the newly introduced years of incarnation (AD) and the date was determined according to the Alexandrian-Dionysian Easter table .

During the expansion of Northumbria in the 670s, Wilfrid was granted significant lands in the areas conquered by Ecgfrith. Goods came into his possession outside of Northumbria, especially in the Kingdom of Hwicce . Wilfrid arrogantly considered himself the ecclesiastical leader of northern Britain and Ireland. His influence was actually large enough to the 676 from the Irish exile to Austrasia returning Merovingian Dagobert II. To provide an escort from his own men (676-679). At that time, there seem to have been very close relationships between Ripon and Irish communities who also followed the Roman rite, because around 678 Willibrord withdrew from Ripon to Ireland for longer studies. Eddius Stephanus wrote extensively about Wilfrid's fame, his large entourage and his personal wealth, but also emphasized Wilfrid's ascetic lifestyle and pastoral zeal. Wilfrid's position in Northern Britain was that of a metropolitan.

Wilfrid had lost the benevolence of King Ecgfrith in 672 when he encouraged Queen Æthelthryth to leave her husband and enter a monastery. In 678, at the instigation of Queen Eormenburg, who had married Ecgfrith in 675, there was a break between Ecgfrith and Bishop Wilfrith. Possibly Wilfrid's close ties to the warring Mercia were another reason. Resistance against Wilfrid also arose within the church, above all the abbess Hilda von Whitby .

Second trip to Rome

Wilfrid was deposed in 678 and his diocese of Ecgfrith was divided by agreement with Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury : Bosa was in York from Theodore to Bishop of Deira , based in York , Eata to Bishop of Bernicia, with offices in Hagustald ( Hexham ) and Lindisfarne and Eadhæd at ordained first bishop of Lindsey . The Anglo-Saxon Trumwine became Bishop of Abercorn in West Lothian in Pict .

Wilfrid decided to let Pope Agatho (678-681) decide the matter and traveled to Rome. He traveled via Friesland, where he did missionary work for some time, to the Austrasian court of his friend Dagobert II, who offered him the diocese of Strasbourg . Wilfrid refused, traveled on and reached Rome in 679. A synod decided that he should be reinstated as Bishop of York, but the division of the diocese should be maintained. His monasteries were no longer subordinate to the bishop, but directly to the pope.

Mission to Sussex and Bishop of Wessex

Wilfrid returned to Northumbria in 680. But neither Archbishop Theodor nor King Ecgfrith recognized the papal letter. Queen Eormenburg robbed him of the relics he had brought with him and Wilfrith was imprisoned for nine months. In 680 Wilfrid went into exile in Mercia and received land from Berhtwald , a nephew of King Æthelred (675–704), to build a small monastery. Ecgfrith exerted political pressure and around 680/681 Wilfrid was exiled to Sussex. Despite its proximity to Canterbury, conversion to Christianity apparently came late, when most of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had been Christian for two generations. In Bosham (West Sussex) there was a small monastery in which the monk Dícuill lived with five or six brothers, but the population initially stuck to the " old faith ". Wilfrid evangelized with great success. King Æthelwalh (before 661-around 682) provided him with extensive land for the establishment of Selsey Abbey . The Episcopal See in Selsey was also established at this time.

Caedwalla gives Bishop Wilfrid a certificate. Wall painting by Lambert Barnard from the early 16th century

Around 682 the pagan Caedwalla , an exiled member of the royal house of Wessex , attacked Sussex with his army. Æthelwalh fell during the fighting and Sussex was sacked. Wilfrid and Caedwalla met. Probably under Wilfrid's influence, he made generous gifts to the church. Apparently Caedwalla set Ecgwald (683? -685?), Whose origin is unknown, as a subregulus (sub-king) in Sussex. Ecgwald is only known through two presumably fake charters . In these 683 and 685 he submissively ( mente devota ) approves gifts of land by Caedwalla to Bishop Wilfrid. When Caedwalla became king of Gewissæ (Wessex) in 685 , he made Wilfrid bishop of his kingdom.

Second term as Bishop of York

In 686 Aldfrith (686-705) ascended the throne of Northumbria and Wilfrid received his monasteries in Ripon and Hexham and the diocese of York back through the mediation of Archbishop Theodore. In 688 tensions arose again, probably because Aldfrith, who had got to know the Irish-Scottish liturgy in Iona, developed sympathy for its cult, while Wilfrid insisted on the implementation of the resolutions of the Synod of Whitby . In addition, Aldfrith was not interested in creating a center of power in the Diocese of York that could counter his royal rule on an equal footing. Therefore, Aldfrith planned to establish another diocese in Ripon, while Wilfrid was exiled again in 692, this time to Mercia. The displaced Bishop Bosa returned to office in York.

Exile in Mercia, third trip to Rome and reconciliation

In Mercia Wilfrid was under the protection of King Æthelreds (675–704), who made him Bishop of Leicester (692–703). In 695 Wilfrid traveled to Ely and took part in the translatio of his patroness Æthelthryth . In 703 Archbishop Berhtwald (693-731) headed the Council of Austerfield, where Wilfrid was deposed as bishop and his possessions were expropriated. He was only allowed to keep the Ripon Monastery. In consultation with his patron Æthelred, Wilfrid decided to turn to the Pope again, whereupon he was excommunicated by his opponents. Wilfrid was born in 704 by Pope John VI. (701–705) rehabilitated, but the Pope transferred the final decision to an English synod. Wilfrid spent a few more months in Rome, visiting the tombs of the saints and collecting relics. Wilfrid was reconciled with Berhtwald at a synod in Kent in 705.

When King Aldfrith died in 705, the succession to the throne was not assured, as his son Osred was only about eight years old. A time of political turmoil began in which Eadwulf (705–706) was able to prevail against the supporters of Osred. At first Eadwulf was also supported by Wilfrid, the Bishop of York, who had been driven into exile by Aldfrith and was now hoping to be reinstated. After corresponding approaches remained unsuccessful, Wilfrid supported Osred from then on. Eadwulf's reign lasted only two months. In the vicinity of Bamburgh there were military clashes with the supporters of Osred, which included his aunt Ælfflæd, Bishop Wilfrid and Ealdorman Beorhtfrith. Eadwulf was defeated and had to go into exile. Osred, whom Wilfrid had adopted, succeeded the throne.

At the synod led by Berhtwald in 706, Wilfrid received the diocese and monastery of Hexham, and he also got his monastery back in Ripon. When Bosa of York died shortly afterwards, he had the opportunity to regain the diocese of York. Despite the Pope's decision, the aging and presumably ailing Wilfrid renounced the diocese in favor of Johannes von Beverley .

Last years and death

Depiction of Saint Wilfrid in Chichester Cathedral

Eighteen months before he died, Wilfrid suffered a stroke. He settled his estate and selected suitable abbots for his monasteries and distributed his fortune: a quarter should go to the churches of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo fuori le Mura in Rome, a quarter to the poor, another to the abbots of Ripon and Hexham and that last quarter to his loyal followers who had followed him into exile. This distribution of his fortune, concealed by Beda Venerabilis , is more reminiscent of a Germanic nobleman among his followers than of the deathbed scenarios of contemporary bishops and abbots. He installed his relative Tatberht as fellow abbot and successor in Ripon and designated Acca as his successor in Hexham, thereby disregarding the Benedictine right of monks to freely elect abbots . At the invitation of King Ceolred (709–716), Wilfrid then traveled to Mercia and settled his affairs there. In his monastery in Oundle , Wilfrid suffered another episode of illness from which he died shortly afterwards in 709/710. His body was brought to Ripon and buried on the south side of the altar of the Church of St Peter . The grave inscription was handed down from Beda.

Adoration

A cult developed among Wilfrid's followers immediately after his death. In ceremonies similar to those of other contemporary saints, the body was washed and dressed in a chasuble. Miracles are said to have occurred in the place where the ablution water was poured out. From Ripon the monks came to meet the funeral procession with relics to receive the saint. Wilfrid's successor Abbot Tatberht expanded the cult around him. Every day a mass was held in Ripon in honor of Wilfrid and every Thursday, the anniversary of Wilfrid's death, was celebrated as a feast day, like Sunday. The anniversary of his death was honored with special rites.

In Anglo-Saxon England, Wilfrids was commemorated on two days, October 12th and April 24th. In the year 709 none of these days fell on a Thursday, which Eddius Stephanus expressly called the day of his death. April 24, 710, however, was a Thursday, and thus the presumed date of death. In the calendars of the 8th and 9th centuries, April 24th is exclusively recorded as a festival. October 12, possibly in memory of a translatio , has come to the fore since the 10th century.

The cult spread slowly and was largely confined to Wilfrid's monasteries. When Wilfrid's successor, Acca , was driven out of office by Hexham in 731, Ripon remained as a major cult center. Around 950 Ripon was burned down by King Eadred (946–955) and some of Wilfrid's relics came to Archbishop Odo of Canterbury (941–958). Other relics were found by his nephew Archbishop Oswald von York (972–992) in Ripon, which he had rebuilt. Both archbishops revived the cult of Wilfrid. At the time of the Norman conquest (1066), the worship of Wilfrid was widespread. At least eleven monasteries and churches were in possession of his relics and 48 churches were dedicated to him.

Wilfrid is considered the patron saint of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the city of Ripon.

swell

literature

Web links

Commons : Wilfrid  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Alan Thacker: Wilfrid  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically defective marked. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved February 15, 2012
  2. ↑ Beda: HE 5,19
  3. ↑ a b Beda: Vita sancti Cuthbercti 7–8
  4. ↑ a b Rosemary Cramp: Alchfrith (fl. C.655 – c.665)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2011
  5. ↑ Barbara Yorke: Cenwalh  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved November 13, 2011
  6. ↑ Heinrich Beck (ed.): Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , Volume 33 , de Gruyter, 2006, ISBN 978-311018388-7 , p. 563.
  7. ↑ Beda: HE 3.25
  8. ^ TM Charles-Edwards: Early Christian Ireland , Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 978-052136395-2 , p. 430.
  9. ^ John Blair: The church in Anglo-Saxon society. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2005, ISBN 978-0198226956 , p. 95.
  10. ↑ Beda: HE 4:19
  11. ↑ a b c J. R. Maddicott: Ecgfrith (645 / 6–685)  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ Beda: HE 4.12
  13. ^ John Thomas Koch: Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, 2006, ISBN 978-185109440-0 , pp. 644-646.
  14. ^ SE Kelly: Sussex, Kingdom of . In: Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 978-0-6312-2492-1 , pp. 431-432.
  15. ↑ a b Beda: HE 4.13
  16. ↑ Beda: HE 4.15
  17. ↑ Barbara Yorke: Cædwalla . In: Lapidge et al. (Ed.): The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England . Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford et al. a. 2001, ISBN 978-0-6312-2492-1 , p. 81.
  18. ↑ Charter S230 and Charter S232
  19. ↑ a b c Rosemary Cramp: Aldfrith  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2011
  20. ^ A b Eddius Stephanus: Vita Wilfridi 59
  21. ↑ David W. Rollason: Osred I  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oxforddnb.com   (paid registration required). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved November 13, 2011
  22. ^ Saint Wilfrid of York in saints.sqpn.com
predecessor Office successor
Jaruman Bishop of Mercia
667–669 		Chad
Chad Bishop of York
669–678 		Division of the diocese of
Bosa (York)
Eata ( Hexham and Lindisfarne )
Eadhæd (Lindsey)
Trumwine (Abercorn)
- Bishop of Selsey
about 681-about 685 		Eadberht
? Bishop of Wessex
around 685–686 		?
Bosa Bishop of York
686–692 		Bosa
Ætla Bishop of Leicester
692–703 		Headda
John of Beverley Bishop of Hexham
706–709 / 710 		Acca
personal data
SURNAME Wilfrid
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wilfrith; St. Wilfrid; Uilfrid; Wilfrið; Wilfriþ; Wilferð; Wilferþ
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English bishop, saint
DATE OF BIRTH at 634
DATE OF DEATH 709 or 710
Place of death Oundle, Northamptonshire