Saint Arbogast

Saint Arbogast

St. Arbogast entering Strasbourg, illustration from the Alsacian Legenda Aurea (1419)
Died c. 700 AD
Austrasia
Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Feast 21 July

Saint Arbogast (or Saint Arbogast of Strassburg; German: Arbogast von Straßburg; French: Arbogast de Strasbourg; Latin: Arbogastus; c. 600s – 700 AD) was a 7th-century missionary to the Frankish Empire and an early Bishop of Strasbourg.

Only little historical facts of his life can be stated with certainty, other than that he came to Francia, was appointed Bishop of Strasbourg and was venerated from the early medieval period as the saint who brought Christianity to the Alsace. Because of this, the given name Arbogast became especially popular in the region.

Some sources give the year of his death as 678, in keeping with his being appointed by Dagobert II according to the 10th-century hagiographical account of his life. But as Arbogast was buried in the old Roman necropolis outside the city.

His origin is variously given as Scotland or Ireland, or Aquitania.

Biography

According to the tradition placing him in the late 7th century, Arbogast found a warm friend in the Merovingian King Dagobert II of Austrasia. On Dagobert's accession to the throne of Austrasia, Arbogast was appointed Bishop of Strasbourg, and was famed for sanctity and miracles. Still according to the vita, Arbogast brought back to life Dagobert's son, Siegebert, who had been killed by a fall from his horse. Siegebert had been boar hunting with his father’s huntsmen in forests along the Ill River near Ebersheim, and became separated from the others. He encountered a boar, and his startled horse reared, throwing him and trampling him while his foot was caught in his stirrup. His companions found him and took him home, where he died the next day. King Dagobert summoned Arbogast, and the holy man prayed to Saint Mary, mother of Jesus: as she had carried the life of the entire world, would she not intercede for the life of this one boy? Siegebert stood up in his burial shroud. When the king offered bishop Arbogast money in reward, he declined, suggesting instead that land be donated to build a cathedral at Strasbourg.[1]

At his own special request, he was buried on the side of Hangman's Hill, where a gallows was located and only malefactors were interred. The site of his burial was subsequently deemed suitable for a church, and a chapel to was built in honor of St Michael. Arbogast is commemorated on 21 July.

He appears on the coat of arms of Batzendorf.

References

  1. ↑ Ward, Donald (1981). The German Legends of the Brothers Grimm, Vol. II. Philadelphis: Institute for the Study of Human Issues. p. 61. ISBN 0-915980-71-1.

Sources

Media related to Saint Arbogast at Wikimedia Commons

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Solarius		 Bishop of Strasbourg
unknown 		Succeeded by
Florentius
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