Gerard Segarelli

Gerardo Segarelli, also Gherardo Segarelli or Segalleli, (c. 1240 Segalara in the province of Parma, † July 18, 1300 in Parma) founded the sect of the Apostolic Brethren (Latin Apostolici ). This community has been recognized by the Catholic Church as a religious neither their doctrines, which ultimately led to that Segarelli was burned as heretics at the stake.

Life

Early years

Gerardo Segarelli worked as craftsmen in Parma. In the 1250s years matured in him the idea to renounce the world and go to a convent of Franciscans. However, the Order took him not because of extreme views in his series on. He nevertheless remained in the vicinity of the monastery and visited the church to sit in it and kneel before the altar. Maybe with a picture of the Twelve Apostles influenced by the altar, he let hair and beard grow, walked barefoot and dressed in a white tunic to mimic the habit of the early Christians. In 1260, he began to draw around, dressed in a simple manner as the apostles as preacher in the city. He sold his possessions and distributed the proceeds among the poor in the city. About three years later others joined him, and he gathered a community of about 30 people around him who called himself "apostle brothers."

The Apostolic Brethren sought to restore the simple form of the apostolic community. They preached the approaching end of the world and called on their fellow citizens to repent. From his listeners Segarelli requested food and alms, which he always shared with poorer. He claimed to be apostles and hinted to maintain contact with the late Francis of Assisi. When a group was created to let Segarelli choose their leader after initial prevarication. She took singing through the streets and received their supply from the ranks of the poor. Segarelli now began to preach in other cities. The movement soon spread mainly in northern Italy from, but also the Holy Roman Empire, France, Spain and England Apostolic Brethren were active. The sect also belonged to female members.

Conflicts with the official church

In 1280 the Bishop of Parma Gerardo Segarelli was captivated. Under questioning, the interviewer did not find anything illegal or in his sermons and his driving, so he was released. He was classified as a poor, confused visionary. The spread of ideas tried Segarellis Pope Honorius IV with a bull of March 11, 1286 to counteract by he condemned the teachings of the Apostoliker. After an unpleasant attract attention of the apostles brothers and sisters Segarelli 1286 banned by the bishop as a dreamer from his diocese. A council in Würzburg in 1287 led to the Apostoliker prohibiting begging and preaching. The other believers were warned to support members of the sect through food or water.

Segarelli again took over the top of the Apostolic Brethren and ranted from 1290 especially against the secularization of the clergy and the states in the Church. Pope Nicholas IV reiterated on March 7, 1290 in a papal bull the rejection of the sect. As Segarelli returned contrary to the prohibition to Parma, he was arrested in 1294. The preacher recanted before the bishop Obizzo Sanvitale his teachings to be false and was then to life imprisonment. Four of his fellow supporters were burned alive. In 1300, a renewed trial against Segarelli was performed. He was da Parma guilty by Inquisitor Manfredo as backslider of heresy and burned after the verdict. After execution of the church critic indignant people forced their way into the building of the Inquisitor and devastated areas.

The leadership of the Apostolic Brethren took over after Segarellis execution Fra Dolcino.