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Icon of St. Wigbert, Abbot of
Fritzlar
Feast: Aug. 13
St. Wigbert was a priest and
companion of St. Boniface (Winfred), apostle to Germany. He became
abbot at Fritzlar (Tritzlar) in Germany.
St. Wigbert was born in
England about 675. He was known for the purity of his morals, his zeal
for the salvation of souls, his boundless love, his penetrating
knowledge and familiarity with the Scriptures. He had great skill in
teaching, struggled excellently in monastic podvig, and was faithful in
all matters. St. Boniface summoned him from England to Germany, so in
about the year 734 St. Wigbert went to Germany, and there he was made
abbot of the monastery of Hersfeld in Hesse. Among his pupils was St.
Sturmi, first abbot of Fulda. About 737 Boniface transferred him to
Thuringia as abbot of Ohrdruf, where he worked with the same success as
in Hersfeld. Later, Wigbert obtained Boniface's permission to return to
Hersfeld to spend his remaining days in stillness and to prepare for
the hour of death. Even in old age and in illness he continued his
austere mode of life, until the very end. The Saint reposed at Hersfeld
in about 746.He was first buried at
Fritzlar in an inconspicuous grave, but during an incursion of Saxons
(774) his remains were taken for safety to Buraburg, and from there, in
780, his sacred relics were transferred by Abp. St. Lullus to Hersfeld.
In the year 850 a beautiful church was built to him, but it burned down
in 1037. A new church was built and dedicated in 1144 but it burned in
1761 in a great fire, after which his sacred relics were never found
again by men. Holy Venerable Father Wigbert, pray to God for us!
Icon at St. Spyridon Serbian
Orthodox Skyte in Geilnau, Germany. By the hand of Alexander
Stolyarov. Click the image to see greater detail.
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