Saint Adalbert
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg (born c. 910 AD; died June 20, 981 AD) was a Benedictine monk and the first Archbishop of Magdeburg, appointed by Emperor Otto I the Great to lead the evangelization of the Slavic peoples east of the Elbe River. He is one of the key figures of tenth-century German Christianity and of the missionary expansion of the Church into eastern Central Europe. Though his first mission to Russia (Kievan Rus) ended in failure and near-martyrdom, he later became a successful archbishop and missionary organizer at Magdeburg, the great eastern outpost of the Ottonian Empire.
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg is distinct from the far more famous Saint Adalbert of Prague (also 10th century, also a missionary to the Slavs, also martyred) — a frequent source of confusion, as both men bore the same name, lived at the same time, and pursued the same mission field. The article below covers Adalbert of Magdeburg.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Adalbert
| Saint Adalbert | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 20 |
| Profession | Archbishop of Magdeburg; Benedictine monk; missionary |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Benedictine Order |
| Patronage | Magdeburg; Slavic peoples; missionaries |
| Attributes | Archbishop's vestments; pallium; crozier; missionary cross |
| Birthplace | Frankish or German territory (precise location unknown) |
| Death Place | Zinna (near Jüterbog), Brandenburg, Germany |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; confessor archbishop |
| Primary Shrine | Magdeburg Cathedral (Magdeburger Dom), Magdeburg, Germany |
| Liturgical Class | Not included |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
Saint Adalbert was born around 910 AD in the German or Frankish territories of the Ottonian realm. He became a monk of the Benedictine Order and was educated at the monastery of Weissenburg (Wissembourg) in Alsace, one of the important Carolingian monasteries.
Early Life
Adalbert attracted the attention of Emperor Otto I the Great, who was the dominant ruler of central Europe in the tenth century and who had ambitious plans for the Christianization of the Slavic peoples. When Princess Olga of Kiev (herself later venerated as a saint) requested missionaries for the Kievan Rus, Otto chose Adalbert to lead the mission.
Occupation
In 961–962 AD, Adalbert traveled to Kiev (Kyiv) as a missionary bishop appointed for the Rus. The mission was a failure: the pagan party at the Kievan court was hostile, some of Adalbert's companions were killed, and Adalbert himself barely escaped with his life. He returned to Germany having baptized few if any Rus, and apparently also without episcopal consecration being officially accepted by the Rus.
Despite this failure, Otto I recognized Adalbert's abilities and appointed him the first Archbishop of Magdeburg in 968, when the Magdeburg archdiocese was established as the metropolitan see for the Christianization of the Slavic peoples east of the Elbe. This was one of the most important ecclesiastical appointments of the tenth century: Magdeburg was to be the great missionary center for the eastern expansion of the Church, and its archbishop would oversee the new episcopal sees being established among the Slavs of Poland and Bohemia.
As Archbishop of Magdeburg, Adalbert was energetic and effective — organizing the missionary structure, establishing suffragan sees, and working to bring the Gospel to the peoples of the east. The Magdeburg archdiocese under his leadership became the launching pad for the Christianization of Poland, Bohemia, and other Slavic lands in the following generation.
Vocation
Saint Adalbert's vocation was that of a missionary-bishop, committed to the expansion of the Church among the pagan peoples of eastern Europe. His willingness to undertake the dangerous mission to the Kievan Rus — and his perseverance after its failure — testify to the depth of his missionary commitment.
Death
Saint Adalbert died on June 20, 981 AD, at or near Zinna (near Jüterbog) in what is now Brandenburg, Germany, while traveling — perhaps on a visitation journey to his missionary territories. He died peacefully as a confessor.
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg met his end on June 20, 981 AD, having served the Church as the first Archbishop of Magdeburg and as one of the great organizers of the eastern missionary expansion of medieval Christianity.
Significant events
- Born c. 910 AD; became a Benedictine monk at Weissenburg, Alsace.
- Led a missionary expedition to the Kievan Rus at the request of Princess Olga of Kiev, 961–962 AD.
- Mission to Kievan Rus ended in failure; some companions killed; Adalbert barely escaped.
- Appointed first Archbishop of Magdeburg by Emperor Otto I in 968 AD.
- Organized the missionary structure for the Christianization of the Slavic east from Magdeburg.
- Died June 20, 981 AD, near Zinna (Jüterbog), Brandenburg.
- Feast day observed on June 20.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: Zinna (near Jüterbog), Brandenburg, Germany
Notable location: His archiepiscopal see; the great center of eastern German Christianity (Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)
Notable location: Where he led the failed mission to Princess Olga of Kievan Rus in 961–962 AD (Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine)
Notable location: Benedictine monastery where he was trained (Weissenburg (Wissembourg), Alsace, France)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
| Saint Adalbert |
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Adalbert (Diocese of Albany) | Diocese of Albany | Albany, NY | New York | United States | https://www.stadalberts.org/ |
| St. Adalbert (Diocese of Albany) | Diocese of Albany | Schenectady, NY | New York | United States | https://www.churchofstadalbert.org |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Adalbert, Martyr - April 23rd | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
Magdeburg Cathedral (Magdeburger Dom), Magdeburg, Germany
The Magdeburg Cathedral (Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine, Dom zu Magdeburg) is the first Gothic cathedral built on German soil (begun 1209) and is the successor church to the Ottonian cathedral built under Adalbert. It stands on the site of the original archiepiscopal church of Magdeburg and is the memorial church of the first Archbishop of Magdeburg. It contains the tomb of Emperor Otto I.
- Location: Domplatz 1, 39104 Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
- Diocese: Diocese of Magdeburg
- Notable features: First Gothic cathedral in Germany; tomb of Emperor Otto I; connected to the first Archbishop Adalbert
Canonization
Servant of God
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg is recognized through the ancient tradition of the German Church.
Venerable
Not applicable.
Beatification
Not applicable to this pre-Congregation of Rites recognition.
Canonization
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg is recognized through the ancient tradition of the German Church.
Miracles
No specific miracles attributed individually to Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg have been formally documented in available sources.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Other notable miracles
No specific miracles are recorded in available primary sources.
Patronage
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg is venerated as a patron of Magdeburg and of missionaries to the Slavic peoples.
Feast day
June 20
Veneration
Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg is venerated in the German Catholic tradition as one of the great missionary archbishops of the medieval Church. His feast is observed on June 20. Though often overshadowed by the more celebrated Saint Adalbert of Prague, he deserves recognition as the organizer of the eastern missionary enterprise from Magdeburg that laid the groundwork for the Christianization of Poland, Bohemia, and the Slavic world.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
- Fried, Johannes. Otto III und Bolesław Chrobry. Wiesbaden: Steiner, 1989.
- Acta Sanctorum, June vol. IV (June 20). Hagiographic collection.
Written by the saint
- No writings by Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg have been identified.
External links
References
- Acta Sanctorum, June IV (June 20). Antwerp/Brussels, 1643–1940.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.