Erhard of Regensburg

St. Erhard ( * before 700 probably in Narbonne, southern France; † around 715/717 in Regensburg ) worked as a traveling bishop in Alsace and in the Bavarian town of Regensburg.

Life

Erhard is probably from the south of France, Narbonne. Towards the end of the 7th century, he was a wandering monk in Alsace on the way here and founded numerous monasteries. From that time the legend has been handed down, following which, during her baptism reproduced the Alsatian Duke 's daughter Odile, who was blind from birth eyesight. To 680/690 came Erhard as a missionary bishop to the court of the Bavarian Agilolfingerherzöge to Regensburg. Here he looked even before the actual foundation of the diocese of Regensburg by Duke Theodosius II as a precursor of the Christian faith in Bavaria. The hl. Boniface canonized the existing Bavarian dioceses in the year 739

The exact date of death is unknown. He's probably died around the year 715 or 717 in Regensburg. His original grave and other archaeological finds can be visited in the crypt of Regensburg Niedermünster church. His relics are now in a silver shrine from the 19th century on the north side of the church.

On October 8, 1052 he was appointed by Pope Leo IX. canonized.

Holy attributes

The hl. Erhard is usually depicted as a bishop, together with a book, lying on the two eyes.

Patron

The hl. Erhard is next to the St.. Wolfgang and St.. Emmeram the third patron saint of the diocese of Regensburg.

His feast day is January 8. The Bauer rule for this day expresses that the Christmas season is now complete.

He is regarded as a helper for headaches and eye trouble and is revered as the patron saint of shoemakers.

Erhard is the patron of several churches, see Erhardkirche.

Origin of the name

The name " Erhard " consists = hard, strong together from the Old High German " era" = honor, reputation and " hard".