Saint Erhard of Regensburg
Saint Erhard of Regensburg (born c. 640 AD, possibly in Narbonne, France or Ireland; died c. 686 AD in Regensburg, Bavaria) was a bishop-missionary (chorepiscopus or regional bishop) active in Bavaria and Austria in the late 7th century. He is best known for baptizing Saint Odilia of Alsace and for restoring her sight at the moment of baptism. He is venerated in Bavaria, Alsace, and Austria. His feast day is January 8.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Erhard of Regensburg
| Saint Erhard of Regensburg | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 08 |
| Profession | Bishop (chorepiscopus); missionary; pilgrim bishop |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Bavarian/Irish missionary tradition |
| Patronage | Regensburg; Bavaria; the blind; those receiving baptism |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; baptismal shell or font; Saint Odilia (often depicted beside her) |
| Birthplace | Narbonne, France, or possibly Ireland (disputed) |
| Death Place | Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Niedermünster, Regensburg — where his body was brought; also the Lower Minster (Niedermünster) area in Regensburg |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast observed in Diocese of Regensburg; January 8 |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Erhard is identified in tradition as a chorepiscopus — a traveling or regional bishop without a fixed see, typical of the Irish-Frankish missionary church of the 7th century. Whether he was Irish, Frankish, or from Narbonne is disputed in the sources; his name is Germanic, but he may have had Irish training.
He was active in Bavaria, centered on Regensburg, where he used the Abbey of Saint Emmeram as his base. He traveled extensively through the region, baptizing, confirming, and ordaining.
The event most associated with him is the baptism of Saint Odilia of Alsace. According to her hagiography, Odilia was born blind and was therefore not baptized by her pagan or semi-Christian father Adelric, Duke of Alsace. She was sent to a convent as a child. When she was of age, Erhard — directed by a vision — traveled from Bavaria to Alsace specifically to baptize her. At the moment he poured the baptismal water on her head (using a chrism from Saint Bonaface of Britain/Saint Bonaface of Toul), she opened her eyes and saw for the first time.
This miracle established Erhard's reputation. He returned to Regensburg, where he spent the rest of his life and died around 686. He was buried near the Abbey of Saint Emmeram. His feast day is January 8.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Narbonne, France, or possibly Ireland (disputed)
Death location: Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Notable location: Where he was based as a bishop-missionary; the Abbey of Saint Emmeram was his center of activity; he is buried here (Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany)
Notable location: The traditional location where he baptized Saint Odilia and restored her sight; he traveled from Bavaria to Alsace for this purpose at the request of Duke Adelric (Obernai (Ebersmünster), Alsace, France)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Erhard of Regensburg have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Niedermünster (Lower Minster), Regensburg, Bavaria — the church associated with his burial.
Feast day
January 8
Veneration
Saint Erhard of Regensburg is venerated in the Diocese of Regensburg and in Alsace with a feast day on January 8.
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.