- Gebhard of Salzburg
Blessed Gebhard of Salzburg, also occasionally known as Gebhard of Helfenstein (estimated date of birth about 1010; died
15 June 1088 ) wasArchbishop of Salzburg .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 inParis , was ordained a priest in 1055 and became court chaplain to Emperor Henry III. He travelled as an ambassador toConstantinople and was Imperial Chancellor between 1057 and 1059.On
30 July 1060 he was consecrated bishop of theArchdiocese of Salzburg . He abolished the Slavictithes and reorganised the parish system inStyria . He also dissolved the double monastery ofGurk Abbey , founded by SaintHemma of Gurk , and replaced it by thesuffragan diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt and, in 1074,Admont Abbey . Besides this, he had the fortresses of Hohensalzburg,Burg Hohenwerfen andFriesach built.In the
Investiture Controversy he was on the side ofPope Gregory VII , in 1076 (like thePapal legate BishopAltmann of Passau ), did not attend theReichstag of Worms and in the same year attended the first synod inRome . In 1077 he supported the election of the counter-kingRudolf 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 ofWelf I, Duke of Bavaria .Gebhard died at Hohenwerfen on
15 June 1088 and is buried in the church of Admont Abbey. His feast day is15 June . He is shown as a bishop with aGreek cross and aunicorn . In 1629 the process of canonisation was begun but has not yet been concluded.ources
*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.External links
*de icon [http://www.aeiou|.g/g173521.htm AEIOU Austrian Biographical Encyclopaedia]
*de icon [http://www.heiligenlexikon.de/index.htm?BiographienG/Gebhard_von_Salzburg.html Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon]
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