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{{Short description|German Augustinian canon regular and the first Bishop of Livonia}}
{{Infobox saint
{{Infobox saint
|name= Saint Meinhard
|name= Saint Meinhard
|birth_date= 1334 or 1336
|birth_date= 1134 or 1136
|death_date= 1196
|death_date= 1196
|feast_day= 14 August
|feast_day= 14 August
|venerated_in= [[Catholic Church]]
|venerated_in= [[Catholic Church]]
|image= Ikšķiles baznīcas drupas.jpg
|image= Ikšķiles baznīcas drupas.jpg
|imagesize= 250px
|imagesize=
|caption= Remains of the church built by Saint Meinhard in present-day [[Latvia]]
|caption= Remains of the church built by Saint Meinhard in present-day [[Latvia]]
|birth_place=
|birth_place=
Line 24: Line 25:
}}
}}


'''Saint Meinhard''' (b. 1134 or 1136 - died August 14 or October 11, 1196) was a German [[canon regular]] and the first [[Bishop of Livonia]]. His life was described in the [[Chronicle of Henry of Livonia]]. His body rests in the now-Lutheran [[Riga Cathedral]].
'''Saint Meinhard''' (1134 or 1136 – August 14 or October 11, 1196) was a German [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[canon regular]] and the first [[bishop of Livonia]]. His life was described in the ''[[Livonian Chronicle of Henry]]''. His body rests in the now-Lutheran [[Riga Cathedral]], as his remains were moved to [[Riga]] in 1226. He is venerated as the apostle of the Church in [[Latvia]] (Livonia in the Middle Ages).<ref>{{cite book|last=Butler|first=Alban|title=Butler's Lives of the Saints, Volume 12|date=1995|page=283}}</ref>


==Life==
As a canon at the [[Segeberg]] Abbey, Meinhard was possibly inspired by [[Vicelinus]] missionary work among the [[Slavs]].<ref name=fonne/> Meinhard traveled with merchants to [[Livonia]] on a [[Catholic mission]] to convert pagan [[Semigallians]], [[Latgalians]], and [[Livonians]] into Christianity.<ref name=butler/> He settled on the [[Daugava River]] at [[Ikšķile]] (German: ''Üxküll'') southeast of [[Riga]]. In 1185–1186 he built a stone church, dedicated to Our Lady. Following an attack by the [[Lithuanians]], Meinhard brought stonemasons from [[Gotland]] to build a fortress to defend against future attacks.<ref name=turnbull/> These were the first known stone buildings among the [[Baltic tribes]].<ref name=turnbull/><ref name=jovai/> Remains of the church survive to this day. Another stone castle was built in [[Salaspils]] (German: ''Holm'') as a gift to newly converted pagans. But the inhabitants rebelled and attacked Meinhard attempting to drive him out of Livonia.<ref name=turnbull/>
As a canon at the [[Segeberg]] Abbey in [[Holstein]], Meinhard was possibly inspired by [[Vicelinus]] missionary work among the [[Slavs]].<ref name=fonne/> Meinhard traveled with [[Lübeck]] merchants, probably trading costly furs, to [[Livonia]] on a [[Catholic mission]] in the 1170s or early 1180s to convert pagan [[Semigallians]], [[Latgalians]], and [[Livonians]] into Christianity.<ref name=butler/> He settled on the [[Daugava River]] at [[Ikšķile]] (German: ''Üxküll'') southeast of where today is [[Riga]]. In 1184, he built a stone church, dedicated to Our Lady.<ref name=latviant/>


Following an attack by the [[Lithuanians]], Meinhard brought stonemasons from [[Gotland]] to build a fortress to defend against future attacks from raiders from Lithuania looking to carry off slaves. These were the first known stone buildings among the [[Baltic tribes]].<ref name=turnbull/><ref name=jovai/> Remains of the church survive to this day. With the construction of the [[Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant]] in the 1970s, an artificial island was erected to prevent water from flooding the ruins.<ref>[https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/history/rare-opportunity-to-visit-st.-meinhards-island-by-foot.a247800/ "Rare opportunity to visit St. Meinhard's island by foot", LSM.lv news, August 24, 2017]</ref> For conservation the ruins were covered with metal in 2002.<ref name=latviant>[https://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/ikskile-church-ruins-st-meinard-island "Ikskile church ruins on the St Meinard island", Latvian tourism board]</ref>
⚫
When he briefly returned to Germany in 1186, Meinhard was consecrated as Bishop of Üxküll by [[Hartwig of Uthlede]], [[Archbishop of Bremen]]. The new bishopric was confirmed by [[Pope Clement III]] in September 1188.<ref name=fonne/> In 1190, Clement III allowed any monk to join Meinhard's mission. New [[Pope Celestine III]] showed more enthusiastic support for the mission in his letter in April 1193, authorizing active missionary recruitment, making exceptions to rules governing monks' food and clothing, and granting [[indulgence]]s to those who joined the mission.<ref name=fonne/> Among the recruits was [[Theoderich von Treyden|Theodorich]] from [[Loccum Abbey]], who started a mission in [[Turaida]] (German: ''Treyden''). Meinhard initially converted the pagans by peaceful means, but faced with resistance and [[apostasy]], he turned to the idea of a [[crusade]].<ref name=fonne/>

Another stone castle was built in [[Salaspils]] (German: ''Holm'') as a gift to newly converted pagans. But the inhabitants rebelled and attacked Meinhard attempting to drive him out of Livonia.<ref name=turnbull/>

[[File:2023 Riga Baptismal font in the Dome.jpg|thumb|Baptismal font of Saint Meinhard (Riga, 2023)]]
⚫
When he briefly returned to Germany in 1186, Meinhard was consecrated as Bishop of Üxküll (present-day [[Ikšķile]], [[Latvia]]) by [[Hartwig of Uthlede]], [[Archbishop of Bremen]]. The new bishopric was confirmed by [[Pope Clement III]] in September 1188.<ref name=fonne/> In 1190, Clement III allowed any monk to join Meinhard's mission. New [[Pope Celestine III]] showed more enthusiastic support for the mission in his letter in April 1193, authorizing active missionary recruitment, making exceptions to rules governing monks' food and clothing, and granting [[indulgence]]s to those who joined the mission.<ref name=fonne/> Among the recruits was [[Theoderich von Treyden|Theodorich]] from [[Loccum Abbey]], who started a mission in [[Turaida]] (German: ''Treyden''). Meinhard initially converted the pagans by peaceful means, but faced with resistance and [[apostasy]], he turned to the idea of a [[crusade]].<ref name=fonne/>


Meinhard was succeeded by [[Berthold of Hanover]] and [[Albert of Riga]], who began the [[Livonian Crusade]] and established the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]], a crusading [[Military order (society)|military order]], in Riga.
Meinhard was succeeded by [[Berthold of Hanover]] and [[Albert of Riga]], who began the [[Livonian Crusade]] and established the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]], a crusading [[Military order (society)|military order]], in Riga.

On 8 September 1993, then [[Pope John Paul II]] during a visit to the Baltic states solemnly proclaimed that he would formally restore the veneration of Saint Meinhard on 14 August each year, in a papal act considered [[Equivalent canonization|equivalent to canonization]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=butler>{{cite book |title=Butler's lives of the saints | volume=12 |first1=Alban |last1=Butler |first2=Kathleen |last2=Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u32OUS4-yd0C&pg=PA283 |page=283 |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-8146-2388-3 }}</ref>
<ref name=butler>{{cite book |title=Butler's lives of the saints | volume=12 |first1=Alban |last1=Butler |first2=Kathleen |last2=Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u32OUS4-yd0C&pg=PA283 |page=283 |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-8146-2388-3 }}</ref>
<ref name=fonne>{{cite book |title=The popes and the Baltic crusades, 1147-1254 |first=Iben |last=Fonnesberg-Schmidt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKCAvDd2JHYC&pg=PA66 |pages=66–68, 73–74 | publisher=BRILL |year=2007 |isbn=90-04-15502-3 |series=The Northern World |volume=26}}</ref>
<ref name=fonne>{{cite book |title=The popes and the Baltic crusades, 1147-1254 |first=Iben |last=Fonnesberg-Schmidt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKCAvDd2JHYC&pg=PA66 |pages=66–68, 73–74 | publisher=BRILL |year=2007 |isbn=978-90-04-15502-2 |series=The Northern World |volume=26}}</ref>
<ref name=jovai>{{cite book| title=Mindaugas karalius | publisher=Aidai |year=2008 |first=Liudas |last=Jovaiša | chapter=Bažnyčia Mindaugo krikšto laikais |isbn=9789955656562 |page=17|language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=jovai>{{cite book| title=Mindaugas karalius | publisher=Aidai |year=2008 |first=Liudas |last=Jovaiša | chapter=Bažnyčia Mindaugo krikšto laikais |isbn=9789955656562 |page=17|language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=turnbull>{{cite book| title=Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights: The stone castles of Latvia and ... |first1=Stephen R. |last1=Turnbull |first2=Peter |last2=Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3wzkSHR4j4C&pg=PA5 |pages=4–5 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=1-84176-712-3 |series=Fortress |volume=19}}</ref>
<ref name=turnbull>{{cite book |title=Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights: The stone castles of Latvia and ... |first1=Stephen R. |last1=Turnbull |first2=Peter |last2=Dennis |pages=4–5 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=1-84176-712-3 |series=Fortress |volume=19 }}</ref>
}}
}}


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{{succession box | before=none | title=[[Archbishopric of Riga|Bishop of Livonia]] | years=1186–1196 | after=[[Berthold of Hanover|Berthold]]}}
{{succession box | before=none | title=[[Archbishopric of Riga|Bishop of Livonia]] | years=1186–1196 | after=[[Berthold of Hanover|Berthold]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Catholicism |portal4= Germany}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meinhard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meinhard}}
[[Category:12th-century births]]
[[Category:12th-century births]]
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[[Category:German Roman Catholic missionaries]]
[[Category:German Roman Catholic missionaries]]
[[Category:Canonical Augustinian bishops]]
[[Category:Canonical Augustinian bishops]]
[[Category:12th-century Roman Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:12th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Livonia]]
[[Category:Prince-bishops in Livonia]]
[[Category:Prince-bishops in Livonia]]
[[Category:Burials in Latvia]]
[[Category:Burials in Latvia]]

Revision as of 08:21, 28 June 2024

Saint Meinhard
Remains of the church built by Saint Meinhard in present-day Latvia
Born1134 or 1136
Died1196
Venerated inCatholic Church
Feast14 August

Saint Meinhard (1134 or 1136 – August 14 or October 11, 1196) was a German Augustinian canon regular and the first bishop of Livonia. His life was described in the Livonian Chronicle of Henry. His body rests in the now-Lutheran Riga Cathedral, as his remains were moved to Riga in 1226. He is venerated as the apostle of the Church in Latvia (Livonia in the Middle Ages).[1]

Life

As a canon at the Segeberg Abbey in Holstein, Meinhard was possibly inspired by Vicelinus missionary work among the Slavs.[2] Meinhard traveled with Lübeck merchants, probably trading costly furs, to Livonia on a Catholic mission in the 1170s or early 1180s to convert pagan Semigallians, Latgalians, and Livonians into Christianity.[3] He settled on the Daugava River at Ikšķile (German: Üxküll) southeast of where today is Riga. In 1184, he built a stone church, dedicated to Our Lady.[4]

Following an attack by the Lithuanians, Meinhard brought stonemasons from Gotland to build a fortress to defend against future attacks from raiders from Lithuania looking to carry off slaves. These were the first known stone buildings among the Baltic tribes.[5][6] Remains of the church survive to this day. With the construction of the Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant in the 1970s, an artificial island was erected to prevent water from flooding the ruins.[7] For conservation the ruins were covered with metal in 2002.[4]

Another stone castle was built in Salaspils (German: Holm) as a gift to newly converted pagans. But the inhabitants rebelled and attacked Meinhard attempting to drive him out of Livonia.[5]

Baptismal font of Saint Meinhard (Riga, 2023)

When he briefly returned to Germany in 1186, Meinhard was consecrated as Bishop of Üxküll (present-day Ikšķile, Latvia) by Hartwig of Uthlede, Archbishop of Bremen. The new bishopric was confirmed by Pope Clement III in September 1188.[2] In 1190, Clement III allowed any monk to join Meinhard's mission. New Pope Celestine III showed more enthusiastic support for the mission in his letter in April 1193, authorizing active missionary recruitment, making exceptions to rules governing monks' food and clothing, and granting indulgences to those who joined the mission.[2] Among the recruits was Theodorich from Loccum Abbey, who started a mission in Turaida (German: Treyden). Meinhard initially converted the pagans by peaceful means, but faced with resistance and apostasy, he turned to the idea of a crusade.[2]

Meinhard was succeeded by Berthold of Hanover and Albert of Riga, who began the Livonian Crusade and established the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a crusading military order, in Riga.

On 8 September 1993, then Pope John Paul II during a visit to the Baltic states solemnly proclaimed that he would formally restore the veneration of Saint Meinhard on 14 August each year, in a papal act considered equivalent to canonization.

References

  1. ^ Butler, Alban (1995). Butler's Lives of the Saints, Volume 12. p. 283.
  2. ^ a b c d Fonnesberg-Schmidt, Iben (2007). The popes and the Baltic crusades, 1147-1254. The Northern World. Vol. 26. BRILL. pp. 66–68, 73–74. ISBN 978-90-04-15502-2.
  3. ^ Butler, Alban; Jones, Kathleen (2000). Butler's lives of the saints. Vol. 12. Liturgical Press. p. 283. ISBN 0-8146-2388-3.
  4. ^ a b "Ikskile church ruins on the St Meinard island", Latvian tourism board
  5. ^ a b Turnbull, Stephen R.; Dennis, Peter (2004). Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights: The stone castles of Latvia and ... Fortress. Vol. 19. Osprey Publishing. pp. 4–5. ISBN 1-84176-712-3.
  6. ^ Jovaiša, Liudas (2008). "Bažnyčia Mindaugo krikšto laikais". Mindaugas karalius (in Lithuanian). Aidai. p. 17. ISBN 9789955656562.
  7. ^ "Rare opportunity to visit St. Meinhard's island by foot", LSM.lv news, August 24, 2017
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
none
 Bishop of Livonia
1186–1196 		Succeeded by
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