Conrad of Constance

Conrad of Constance, Konrad I of Altdorf ( * 900, † 26 November 975 ) was a bishop in the diocese of Constance 934-975 and is revered as a saint since 1123.

Life

The Welf Konrad will have been born around the year 900. He received his spiritual training in Constance Cathedral Chapter, joined the Kanonikergemeinschaft and was elected by his Mitkanonikern 934 and under influence of the Augsburg Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg ( 923-973 ) Bishop of Constance.

As a bishop, and thus as part of the Ottoman Empire Church we find Konrad at least sporadically in relations with the kingdom of Otto I the Great ( 936-973 ). So Conrad was involved in the journey to Rome and imperial coronation of the ruler in winter 961/962, and the Mauritius rotunda built by him in addition to the Constance Cathedral refers to the Holy Empire of the 10th century Mauritius.

Further journeys led Konrad turn to Rome and to Jerusalem, where he went on pilgrimage three times. They served among others the introduction of relics. Rome and Jerusalem idea then determined the building program led by the Bishop in his city, whose foundation he accepted to law for the Roman period. As a model for the Church ups the patriarchal basilicas of Rome served him: Before the city Konrad was analogous to San Paolo fuori le mura build a St. Paul's Church; in the immediate vicinity of the Episcopal Church St. John's Church was built according to San Giovanni in Laterano. Located before the town church of St. Lawrence (later Council chapel of St. Lawrence, and today no longer exists ) he let renew. Under the influence of his Jerusalem pilgrimages he made the already mentioned Mauritius rotunda built as replica of the Holy Sepulcher, which could now serve as a regional pilgrimage destination. For this second walk from the choir of the cathedral chapel he addressed a community of twelve canons, which. Than third Kanonikergemeinschaft next to the cathedral and the Constance of his predecessor Solomon III decorated pin on the St. Stephen's Church, however, only a short time had stock.

The St Maurice and St Lawrence - the latter was the holy days of the famous Battle of Lechfeld of 955 - on the East Frankish - German realm down. The Emperor Otto I thanked Konrad in a deed dated 21 February 962, a few days after his coronation as emperor, with a foundation to Bishop and Bishop Church for salvation of the ruler and also the bishop. The common prayer commemorating associated revealed the close links between the bishop and king, in August 972 and Pelagiusfest on 28th of this month, culminating with the residence of Otto in the episcopal city of Conrad.

Canonization

Behind the canonization of Conrad of Constance stood right at the front of the Bishop of Constance Ulrich I (1111-1127), who wanted to establish next to the " Romans " Pelagius bishop for city and diocese a " local " saints. Konrad offered itself, as even after his death at least started a local worship. In 1089, were of Ulrich's predecessor, Bishop Gebhard III. (1084-1110), the bones of Conrad's been brought by the Mauritius rotunda in the newly built cathedral, but zeitigte this translation further no effect. Only Ulrich ran the canonization of Conrad consistently and made by the monk Udalschalk, who had to leave due to the turmoil of almost fading Investiture Controversy Augsburg, write a Vita Konradihaus.

This hagiography, which also contains reports of hazards arising from the Holy miraculous healings and deliverances - in the second book, was submitted to Calixtus II (1119-1124) in Rome, together with a letter from the Bishop of Constance, the petitions to canonization, Pope. The journey to Rome Udalschalks will be there to date on spring 1123. The only subsequently been signed by Udalschalk third book of the Vita Konradihaus reported as at the Second Lateran Council ( March 1123 ), was decided in favor of the canonization of Conrad, and quotes obtained in the original Pope letter to the Bishop Ulrich of 28 March 1123. The Way to collect the bones of Conrad of Constance was free it.

The " actual" canonization took place on the magnus conventus, the "big meeting " in Konstanz end of November 1123 instead, as the participation of three dukes, counts many of the clergy, abbots and monks as well as by many believers on November 26, the day of death of the saint, reburied in an elaborate liturgical celebration of the bones of the saint in a new shrine and worship were suspended. The Constance relics were however destroyed in the time of the Reformation. The high grave of Konrad with a life-size full-body relief is found in the Konradihaus chapel in Konstanz Muenster.

Remembrance

The Remembrance Day for Conrad of Constance in Protestant calendar name, in Roman Catholic Regional Calendar for the German language area and in the Orthodox calendar of saints is November 26th.

Attributes

Konrad is often depicted with a chalice on which a spider is sitting. One legend claims incurred during the Middle Ages to Conrad, as a spider fell during a show in the sacramental wine, they have mitgetrunken because he did not want to discard the already converted wine. Later, the spider was unharmed come out of his mouth and released.