Bernward of Hildesheim
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| Saint Bernward of Hildesheim | |
|---|---|
 Stature of Bernward von Hildesheim near the cathedral |
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| Born | 960 in Saxon |
| Died | 20 November 1022 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | cathedral |
| Feast | 20 November |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint Bernward of Hildesheim (c. 960 – 20 November 1022) was the Bishop of Hildesheim from 993-1022.
Bernward came from a Saxon noble family and studied at the cathedral school of Hildesheim. From 977, he seved as a scribe and chronicler at the court of Otto II and Theophanu, and then from 987/88-993, he and the future Pope Silvester II were in charge of the young Emperor Otto III.
His time in office fell during the era of the Saxon emperors, who had their roots in the area around Hildesheim and were peronally related to Bernward. During this time, Hildesheim was a center of power in the Holy Roman Empire, and Bernward was determined to give his city an image fitting for one of its stature.
The most famous examples of this ambition are the Bernward doors of the Hildesheim Cathedral (Bronze cast with scenes of the holy history after the wooden doors of Santa Sabina in Rome), the Christus Pilar (Bronze cast with images of the deeds of Christ after the stone Kaisersäulen in Rome), as well as the early romanesque Michaelskirche (finished after Bernward's death). St. Michael's Church was designed to be the image of heavenly Jerusalem by the bishop and he is buried there. The treasures Bernward created are today UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Bernward built up the cathedral district with a strong twelve-towered wall and erected further forts in the countryside to protect against attacks by the neighboring Slavs. However, the inner spiritual struggles of his diocese and aiding the poor were always closest to his heart.
His life was set down in writing by his student Thangmar in the Vita Bernwardi. For at least part of this document is the authorship certain, but other parts were probably added in the High Middle Ages. He died on November 20, 1022, a few weeks after the consecration of the magnificent church of St. Michael which he had built. Bernward was canonized by Pope Celestine III. His feast day is November 20.
[edit] References
- The information in this article is based on that in its German equivalent.
- This article includes content derived from the public domain Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1914.
