Gebhard of Salzburg

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Blessed Gebhard of Salzburg, also occasionally known as Gebhard of Helfenstein (estimated date of birth about 1010; died 15 June 1088) was Archbishop of Salzburg.

Hohensalzburg

Of Gebhard's origins, all that is known for certain is that he was born in the Duchy of Swabia. Although it is sometimes suggested that he was born the Count of Helfenstein, this is entirely speculative. Gebhard studied in Paris, was ordained a priest in 1055 and became court chaplain to Emperor Henry III. He travelled as an ambassador to Constantinople and was Imperial Chancellor between 1057 and 1059.

On 30 July 1060 he was consecrated bishop of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. He abolished the Slavic tithes and reorganised the parish system in Styria. He also dissolved the double monastery of Gurk Abbey, founded by Saint Hemma of Gurk, and replaced it by the suffragan diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt and, in 1074, Admont Abbey. Besides this, he had the fortresses of Hohensalzburg, Burg Hohenwerfen and Friesach built.

In the Investiture Controversy he was on the side of Pope Gregory VII, in 1076 (like the Papal legate Bishop Altmann of Passau), did not attend the Reichstag of Worms and in the same year attended the first synod in Rome. In 1077 he supported the election of the counter-king Rudolf of Swabia.

As he was unwilling to be reconciled with Emperor Henry IV, the Emperor expelled him from Salzburg in 1077, after which he spent nine years in Swabia and the Duchy of Saxony trying to win the support of the bishops for the cause of Pope Gregory VII. Meanwhile in Salzburg, Berthold von Moosburg was installed as anti-bishop in 1085. Gebhard was not able to return to Salzburg until 1086, assisted by the support of Welf I, Duke of Bavaria.

Gebhard died at Hohenwerfen on 15 June 1088 and is buried in the church of Admont Abbey. His feast day is 15 June. He is shown as a bishop with a Greek cross and a unicorn. In 1629 the process of canonisation was begun but has not yet been concluded.

[edit] Sources

Amon, Karl, 1991: Die heiligen Bischöfe und Erzbischöfe der Kirche von Salzburg. In: Sursum Corda, Festschrift für P. Harnoncourt.
Karner, Pius, 1913: Austria Sancta. Die Heiligen und Seligen Salzburgs. Vienna.
Tomek, Ernst, 1935-59: Kirchengeschichte Österreichs. Innsbruck/Vienna/Munich: Tyrolia.
Wimmer, Otto, Melzer, Hartmann, Gelmi, Josef (eds.), 2002: Gebhard Erzb. von Salzburg. In: Lexikon der Namen und Heiligen. Hamburg: Nikol. ISBN 3-933203-63-5
Wodka, Josef, 1959: Kirche in Österreich. Wegweiser durch ihre Geschichte. Vienna: Herder.
Wodka, Josef, 1960: Gebhard EB v. Salzburg. In: Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche. 2nd edition, vol. 4. Freiburg i. B.: Herder.