Difference between revisions of "Saint Adalbert" - New World Encyclopedia

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===Religious Career===
 
===Religious Career===
 
[[Image:Sanctus Adalbertus.jpg|thumb|right| Saint Adalbert.]]
 
[[Image:Sanctus Adalbertus.jpg|thumb|right| Saint Adalbert.]]
Though Adalbert's future seemed both joyful and boundless, he was soon afflicted with a surfeit of personal tragedies. In 981, his father, Prince Slavnik, and his eponymous mentor died. Not long after, he was also witness to the agonizing demise of Bishop Thietmar of Prague, with whom he had developed a strong relationship. Despite his own feelings of unreadiness, he was named successor of Thietmar, a post that he accepted with utmost gravity.<ref>Baring-Gould notes that his youthful gaiety was abruptly silenced by the responsibilities of this new appointment (311). Likewise, Butler quotes from one of the ''Vitae'' of the saint to similar effect: "It is easy to wear a mitre and carry a crozier," Adalbert was heard to say, "but it is a terrible thing to have to give account of a bishopric to the Judge of the Living and the Dead" (152).</ref> Accepting his role, Adalbert took it upon himself to rectify the Christianity of his home diocese&mdash;a task that was made considerably more challenging due to the prevalence of pre-Christian ("[[paganism|pagan]]") beliefs in the area. Though he developed a certain notoriety for his impassioned preaching and his devotion to the poor, his attempts to encourage ecclesiastical reform (such as priestly celibacy) earned him many enemies.<ref>Campbell (1910); Butler, 152).</ref> Growing deeply discouraged at the seeming failure of his efforts, the young bishop eventually resigned from his office and left Prague (989), traveling to Rome and taking up residence in the Benedictine monastery of St. Alexis.<ref>Baring-Gould, 312. While many accounts suggest that Adalbert left Bohemia of his own volition, Farmer opines that he was "exiled in 990 by nationalist opposition (3).</ref>
+
Though Adalbert's future seemed both joyful and boundless, he was soon afflicted with a surfeit of personal tragedies. In 981, both the saint's father (Prince Slavnik) and his eponymous mentor died. Not long after, he was also witness to the agonizing demise of Bishop Thietmar of Prague, with whom he had developed a strong relationship. Despite his own feelings of unreadiness, he was named successor of Thietmar, a post that he accepted with utmost gravity.<ref>Baring-Gould notes that his youthful gaiety was abruptly silenced by the responsibilities of this new appointment (311). Likewise, Butler quotes from one of the ''Vitae'' of the saint to similar effect: "It is easy to wear a mitre and carry a crozier," Adalbert was heard to say, "but it is a terrible thing to have to give account of a bishopric to the Judge of the Living and the Dead" (152).</ref> Taking up his newfound responsibilities, Adalbert made it a personal goal to rectify the Christianity of his home diocese&mdash;a task that was made considerably more challenging due to the prevalence of pre-Christian ("[[paganism|pagan]]") beliefs in the area. Though he developed a certain notoriety for his impassioned preaching and his devotion to the poor, his attempts to encourage ecclesiastical reform (such as priestly celibacy) earned him many enemies (including many members of the Bohemian nobility).<ref>Campbell (1910); Butler, 152).</ref> Growing deeply discouraged at the seeming failure of his efforts, the young bishop eventually resigned from his office and left Prague (989), traveling to Rome and taking up residence in the Benedictine monastery of St. Alexis.<ref>Baring-Gould, 312. While many accounts suggest that Adalbert left Bohemia of his own volition, Farmer opines that he was "exiled in 990 by nationalist opposition (3).</ref>
  
Four years later, in 993, [[Pope John XV]] sent him back to Bohemia. Adalbert became the Bishop again. That time he founded a [[Brevnov Monastery|monastery in Břevnov]], near Prague, the first one for men in the Czech lands. However, he continued to meet with the same kind of opposition to his ministry from the nobility that he had faced earlier. Also, according to Cosmas' chronicle, high clerical office was a burden to Adalbert, and in 994 he offered it to [[Strachkvas]] who was Přemyslid and Duke Boleslav's brother. Strachkvas, nevertheless, refused.
+
Though the future saint would have been content to spend the remainder of his days in quiet study and contemplation, it was simply not to be. Four years later (993), [[Pope John XV]], who was dissatisfied with the condition of the Christian faith in the Slavic world, forcefully reminded Adalbert about his commitment to the people of Bohemia. In the face of such an order, Adalbert resumed his ecclesiastical duties. This time, he founded a [[Brevnov Monastery|monastery in Břevnov]], near Prague, the first one for men in the Czech lands. However, he continued to meet with the same kind of opposition to his ministry from the nobility that he had faced earlier. For this reason, high clerical office was a burden to Adalbert, and in 994 he offered it to [[Strachkvas]] (who was both a Přemyslid and Duke Boleslav's brother). In spite of the power and prestige attached to the position, Strachkvas refused.<ref>[http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00000683/images/index.html?seite=2 Monumenta Germaniae Historica].</ref>
  
In 995 Slavniks' former rivalry with the [[Přemyslids]] resulted in the storming of Libice and a cruel murder of four (or five) of Adalbert's brothers. All this was done by the will of [[Boleslav II of Bohemia]], and the key executioners were his confederates from a powerful clan of [[Vršovci]]. Thus the Zličan princedom became part of the Přemyslids' estate.
+
During this period, the bishop also incited the ire of many locals by offering sanctuary to a noblewoman accused of adultery. When the unruly mob broke into his home, absconded with the woman and murdered her, Adalbert publicly excommunicated them&mdash;an act that redoubled the ire of many noble families.<ref>Farmer, 4; Butler, 153.</ref>
  
Adalbert damned the Vrśovci in church and predicted that they would be severely persecuted. After the tragedy he could not stay in Bohemia and escaped from Prague, despite the Pope's call for him to return to his episcopal see. Strachkvas was eventually appointed to be his successor. However, when he was going to assume the Bishop office in Prague, he suddenly died during the ceremony itself. Circumstances of his death are still unclear.
+
In 995, Slavniks' former rivalry with the [[Přemyslids]] resulted in the storming of Libice and a cruel murder of four (or five) of Adalbert's brothers. All this was done by the will of [[Boleslav II of Bohemia]], and the key executioners were his confederates from a powerful clan of [[Vršovci]]. Thus the Zličan princedom became part of the Přemyslids' estate. The episode involving the adulterous woman is often thought to have been the "tipping point" that initiated this massacre.<ref>''ibid''.</ref>
  
As for Adalbert, he went to [[Hungary]] and baptized [[Géza of Hungary]] and his son [[Stephen of Hungary|Stephen]] in the city of [[Esztergom]]. Then he went to Poland where he was cordially welcomed by Bolesław I the Brave. After the short visit Adalbert went to Prussia with a Christian mission.
+
After the tragedy (and fearing for his own safety), Adalbert could no longer remain in Bohemia. So, he escaped from Prague, ignoring the Pope's call for him to return to his episcopal see, and traveled to [[Hungary]]. While there, he baptized [[Géza of Hungary]] and his son [[Stephen of Hungary|Stephen]] in the city of [[Esztergom]]. He then continued on to Poland, where he was cordially welcomed by Bolesław I the Brave.<ref>Butler, 153.</ref>
  
 
=== Mission and Martyrdom in Prussia ===
 
=== Mission and Martyrdom in Prussia ===
 
[[Image:Adalb.jpg|right|frame|Saint Adalbert being killed by [[Prussians]], part of [[Gniezno Doors]]]]
 
[[Image:Adalb.jpg|right|frame|Saint Adalbert being killed by [[Prussians]], part of [[Gniezno Doors]]]]
  
Adalbert Vojtěch of Prague had already in 977 entertained the idea of becoming a [[missionary]] in [[Prussia (Baltic)|Prussia]]. After he had converted Hungary, he was sent by the Pope to convert the heathen [[Prussians]]. [[Boleslaus I of Poland|Boleslaus the Brave]], duke of Poland (later king), sent [[soldiers]] with Adalbert. The bishop and his followers - including his half-brother Radzim (Gaudentius) - entered Prussian territory near [[Gdańsk]] and went along the [[Baltic Sea]] coast.   
+
Rethinking his religious mission, Adalbert Vojtěch of Prague began to entertain the notion of becoming a missionary in [[Prussia (Baltic)|Prussia]]. After he had converted Hungary, he was sent by the Pope to convert the heathen [[Prussians]].<ref>The pope explicitly rescinded his previous order with the realization that "to go amongst [the Bohemians] against their will was only to provoke further bloodshed" (Butler, 153).</ref> Fortunately, the itinerant bishop had the support of Boleslaus the Brave, duke of Poland, who sent soldiers to accompany his missionary party. Sallying forth, the bishop and his followers - including his half-brother Radzim (Gaudentius) - entered Prussian territory near [[Gdańsk]] and ventured along the coast of the [[Baltic Sea]].   
  
It was a standard procedure of Christian missionaries to try to chop down sacred oak trees (see [[Iconoclasm]]), which they had done in many other places, including [[Saxony]]. Because the trees were worshipped and the spirits who were believed to inhabit the trees were feared for their powers, this was done to demonstrate to the non-Christians that no supernatural powers protected the trees from the Christians.
+
Though his mission was initially successful, earning convert in Danzig and elsewhere, the ill-fated Adalbert eventually came to rouse the suspicion of the locals, who accused him of being a Polish spy. When he continued to preach among their people, ignoring their threats, he and his companions were summarily executed on April 23, 997, somewhere in the vicinity of Koenigsberg.<ref>Farmer, 4; Butler, 153. Campbell (1910) offers a less politicized view of the saint's death: "Success attended his efforts at first, but his imperious manner in commanding them to abandon paganism irritated them, and at the instigation of one of the pagan priests he was killed."</ref>
 
 
When they did not heed warnings to stay away from the sacred oak groves, Adalbert was executed for sacrilege, which his co-religionists interpreted as [[martyr]]dom, in April 997 on the Baltic Sea coast east of Truso (currently [[Elbląg]]) near Tenkitten and Fischhausen (see external link map St. Albrecht) It is recorded that his body was bought back for its weight in [[gold]] by Boleslaus the Brave.
 
  
 
== Canonization and Legacy ==
 
== Canonization and Legacy ==

Revision as of 23:59, 21 September 2007


Saint Adalbert of Prague
Adalbert of Prague.jpg

Apostle of Prussia
Born c. 956 in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia
Died 997 in Truso (Elbląg) or Kaliningrad Oblast
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Canonized 999

by Pope Sylvester II

Major shrine Gniezno, Prague
Feast April 23
Patronage Bohemia; Poland; Prussia

Adalbert (born Vojtěch; c. 956–April 23, 997) was a high-born Czech who served his faith as a bishop of Prague and a Benedictine monk. In spite of his efforts, he was martyred during his mission to convert the Baltic Prussians—a mission that had been instigated by the king of Poland Bolesław I the Brave. For his service to the Catholic Church, he was was posthumously honored as the patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, and Prussia. His feast day is celebrated on April 23.

Biography

Early Life

Vojtěch was born into the noble family of Prince Slavnik and his wife Střezislava in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia.[1] As was common at the time, Radzim and Vojtěch, two of the prince's sons, were groomed for ecclesiastical careers.[2] Of the two, Vojtěch was an exceptionally well-educated man, having studied for about ten years (970-80) in Magdeburg under Saint Adalbert, who so impressed his young pupil that he chose to take his mentor's name at his confirmation. Gifted and industrious, though lacking in an overarching goal or vision, Adalbert Vojtěch completed his studies and took up the carefree life of a man of arms (ca. 980).[3]

Religious Career

Saint Adalbert.

Though Adalbert's future seemed both joyful and boundless, he was soon afflicted with a surfeit of personal tragedies. In 981, both the saint's father (Prince Slavnik) and his eponymous mentor died. Not long after, he was also witness to the agonizing demise of Bishop Thietmar of Prague, with whom he had developed a strong relationship. Despite his own feelings of unreadiness, he was named successor of Thietmar, a post that he accepted with utmost gravity.[4] Taking up his newfound responsibilities, Adalbert made it a personal goal to rectify the Christianity of his home diocese—a task that was made considerably more challenging due to the prevalence of pre-Christian ("pagan") beliefs in the area. Though he developed a certain notoriety for his impassioned preaching and his devotion to the poor, his attempts to encourage ecclesiastical reform (such as priestly celibacy) earned him many enemies (including many members of the Bohemian nobility).[5] Growing deeply discouraged at the seeming failure of his efforts, the young bishop eventually resigned from his office and left Prague (989), traveling to Rome and taking up residence in the Benedictine monastery of St. Alexis.[6]

Though the future saint would have been content to spend the remainder of his days in quiet study and contemplation, it was simply not to be. Four years later (993), Pope John XV, who was dissatisfied with the condition of the Christian faith in the Slavic world, forcefully reminded Adalbert about his commitment to the people of Bohemia. In the face of such an order, Adalbert resumed his ecclesiastical duties. This time, he founded a monastery in Břevnov, near Prague, the first one for men in the Czech lands. However, he continued to meet with the same kind of opposition to his ministry from the nobility that he had faced earlier. For this reason, high clerical office was a burden to Adalbert, and in 994 he offered it to Strachkvas (who was both a Přemyslid and Duke Boleslav's brother). In spite of the power and prestige attached to the position, Strachkvas refused.[7]

During this period, the bishop also incited the ire of many locals by offering sanctuary to a noblewoman accused of adultery. When the unruly mob broke into his home, absconded with the woman and murdered her, Adalbert publicly excommunicated them—an act that redoubled the ire of many noble families.[8]

In 995, Slavniks' former rivalry with the Přemyslids resulted in the storming of Libice and a cruel murder of four (or five) of Adalbert's brothers. All this was done by the will of Boleslav II of Bohemia, and the key executioners were his confederates from a powerful clan of Vršovci. Thus the Zličan princedom became part of the Přemyslids' estate. The episode involving the adulterous woman is often thought to have been the "tipping point" that initiated this massacre.[9]

After the tragedy (and fearing for his own safety), Adalbert could no longer remain in Bohemia. So, he escaped from Prague, ignoring the Pope's call for him to return to his episcopal see, and traveled to Hungary. While there, he baptized Géza of Hungary and his son Stephen in the city of Esztergom. He then continued on to Poland, where he was cordially welcomed by Bolesław I the Brave.[10]

Mission and Martyrdom in Prussia

Saint Adalbert being killed by Prussians, part of Gniezno Doors

Rethinking his religious mission, Adalbert Vojtěch of Prague began to entertain the notion of becoming a missionary in Prussia. After he had converted Hungary, he was sent by the Pope to convert the heathen Prussians.[11] Fortunately, the itinerant bishop had the support of Boleslaus the Brave, duke of Poland, who sent soldiers to accompany his missionary party. Sallying forth, the bishop and his followers - including his half-brother Radzim (Gaudentius) - entered Prussian territory near Gdańsk and ventured along the coast of the Baltic Sea.

Though his mission was initially successful, earning convert in Danzig and elsewhere, the ill-fated Adalbert eventually came to rouse the suspicion of the locals, who accused him of being a Polish spy. When he continued to preach among their people, ignoring their threats, he and his companions were summarily executed on April 23, 997, somewhere in the vicinity of Koenigsberg.[12]

Canonization and Legacy

St. Adalbert (Vojtech) and his brother Gaudentius (Radim) monument in Libice (Czech Republic)

A few years later Adalbert was canonized as Saint Adalbert of Prague. His life has been written about in Vita Sancti Adalberti by various writers, the earliest being traced to imperial Aachen and Liège, although it was assumed for many years that the Roman monk John Canaparius wrote the first Vita in 999. Another famous biographer of Adalbert was Saint Bruno of Querfurt who wrote his hagiography in 1001-1004.

Notably, Bohemian rulers (i.e., Přemyslids) initially refused to ransom Saint Adalbert's body from the Prussians who murdered him, so it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by Saint Adalbert's belonging to the Slavniks family; it highlights the strength of the two clans' conflict. Thus Saint Adalbert's bones were stored in Gniezno and helped Boleslaus the Brave to improve Poland's position in Europe.

It is said that in 1039 the Bohemian duke Bretislav I retrieved the bones of Saint Adalbert from Gniezno and moved them to Prague. According to another version, he took only part of the bones, while the rest of Saint Adalbert's relics (including the skull) were hidden by the Poles (according to Roczniki Polskie) and found in 1127. In 1928, one of the arms of Saint Adlbert, which Bolesław I had given to Otto III in the year 1000, was added to the bones preserved in Gniezno. Today Saint Adalbert has two graves, and which bones are authentic is still not clear. For example, the saint has two skulls - one in Prague, a second in Gniezno (stolen in 1923).

June 1997 was the thousandth anniversary of Saint Adalbert's martyrdom. It was commemorated in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Russia and other countries. Representatives of Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Evangelical churches pilgrimaged to Gniezno, to the saint's tomb. John Paul II visited Gniezno and held a ceremonial divine service in which heads of seven European states and about a million believers took part. In Kaliningrad Oblast, near Beregovoe village (former Tenkitten), where Adalbert's death hypothetically took place, a ten-meter cross was established.

Notes

  1. The prince had no shortage of heirs, as Vojtěch had five full brothers: Soběbor (Slavnik's next-of-kin), Spytimir, Pobraslav, Porej, Caslav and a half-brother Radzim Gaudenty (from his father's liaison with another woman).
  2. The phenomenon of courtier-bishops is discussed at length in Jaeger's article, with specific mention of Adalbert on p. 300 (ff. 26).
  3. Baring-Gould, 311; Farmer, 3. A more complete account of his illustrious family's history can be found in the Chronica Boëmorum, accessible online (in the original Latin) at Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
  4. Baring-Gould notes that his youthful gaiety was abruptly silenced by the responsibilities of this new appointment (311). Likewise, Butler quotes from one of the Vitae of the saint to similar effect: "It is easy to wear a mitre and carry a crozier," Adalbert was heard to say, "but it is a terrible thing to have to give account of a bishopric to the Judge of the Living and the Dead" (152).
  5. Campbell (1910); Butler, 152).
  6. Baring-Gould, 312. While many accounts suggest that Adalbert left Bohemia of his own volition, Farmer opines that he was "exiled in 990 by nationalist opposition (3).
  7. Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
  8. Farmer, 4; Butler, 153.
  9. ibid.
  10. Butler, 153.
  11. The pope explicitly rescinded his previous order with the realization that "to go amongst [the Bohemians] against their will was only to provoke further bloodshed" (Butler, 153).
  12. Farmer, 4; Butler, 153. Campbell (1910) offers a less politicized view of the saint's death: "Success attended his efforts at first, but his imperious manner in commanding them to abandon paganism irritated them, and at the instigation of one of the pagan priests he was killed."

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
  • Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine). The Lives of the Saints. With introduction and additional Lives of English martyrs, Cornish, Scottish, and Welsh saints, and a full index to the entire work. Edinburgh: J. Grant, 1914.
  • Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints. Edited, revised, and supplemented by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater. Palm Publishers, 1956.
  • Campbell, T. J. "Saint Adalbert" in The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1909.
  • Farmer, David Hugh. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582.
  • Jaeger, C. Stephen. "The Courtier Bishop in Vitae from the Tenth to the Twelfth Century." Speculum Vol. 58, No. 2 (April 1983). 291-325.

External links

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