Gero (archbishop of Cologne)

Gero (c. 900 in Saxony, † June 28 976 in Cologne) was 969-976 Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cologne.

Life

Its origin is not known with certainty. He was probably the son of the Margrave Christian of Serimunt and his wife Hidda, sister of the Margrave Gero of the Saxon Ostmark I..

About his training and the greater part of his life nothing is known. The person of Gero is probably identical with a 966 mentioned the same presbyter at the Cologne Cathedral. He was a canon of Cologne and Domkustos in Cologne and chaplain of the emperor. 969 Before he founded the Gero - Codex. In addition to the concern for his salvation thereby possibly also the target played a role, to gain competitive advantages in a future Archbishop choice.

969 he was elected Archbishop of Cologne, what should be first met with Emperor Otto I to rejection. This was reported in any case Thietmar of Merseburg. The extent to which this report is authentic, remains controversial. Finally, the emperor consented 970 to the election.

Apparently, the attitude of the emperor towards Gero has changed since he entrusted him with an important mission. 971 Gero broke after Constantine Opel and brought the princess Theophano as a bride for the heir to the throne Otto ( the later Emperor Otto II ) from his trip with Gero after Rom.Zugleich brought the relics of St. Pantaleon to Cologne; they are since that time in the church of St. Pantaleon. In 972 he took part in the Synod of Ingelheim and managed together with the Archbishop of Magdeburg 973 the funeral of Otto I in Magdeburg. Apart from the embassy to Constantinople Opel he had played a significant role either under Otto I. still under Otto II. He was 975 at a Reichstag in Weimar present.

Even after his election, he showed personal piety. 970 donated Gero along with his brother, Margrave of Meissen Thietmar I., the monastery Thank Champ de Mars in the resin at Ballenstedt. 974, he also founded the Benedictine Abbey Gladbach. For the Cologne Cathedral he let make for 971 the famous Gero.

He died at 28 June 976 in Cologne and was buried in Cologne Cathedral. His Grabtumba was built in 1260 in St. Stephen Chapel of the cathedral.

Gero applies in the Catholic Church as a saint. His feast day ( feast ) is celebrated on the day after his death, on June 29.

Naming

• Geroweiher, a pond in a park below the Münster Mönchengladbach.