SAINT ALTFRID, BISHOP - 15 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 15th of August

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SAINT ALTFRID, BISHOP 

St Altfrid's [Alfred] feast day is celebrated on August 15, but also in Essen and Hildesheim on August 16.

HE TOOK PART IN A COUNCIL OF MAINZ

He was a Benedictine monk, became bishop of Hildesheim, Germany, and founded the Abbey in Essen. He is first mentioned by name on October 3. 852, when he took part in a council in Mainz as Bishop of Hildesheim.

According to the Hildesheim Chronicle St Altfrid died "rich in days" in 874, from which a year of birth of around 800 is assumed. It seems likely that he belonged to the Saxon nobility.

BISHOP OF HILDESHEIM

He became Bishop of Hildesheim in succession to Ebbo, who died on March 20 of that year. 

In 864, St Altfrid moved the relics of St Marsus from Auxerre to an unknown place in Saxony, most likely to Corvey Abbey. His sermon on the arrival of the relics survives. In addition, St Altfrid laid the cornerstone of a new cathedral in Hildesheim in 852.

HE ACQUIRED THE RELICS OF SS. COSMAS AND DAMIAN

He acquired the relics of SS. Cosmas and Damian in Rome. St Altfrid also supported the Saxon Count Ricdag in the foundation of the nunnery at Lamspringe by procuring for it the relics of St Hadrian from Rome.

HE BUILT ESSEN CATHEDRAL

St Altfrid also built a church for canonesses, the Stiftskirche, later known as the Essener Münster and from 1958 as Essen Cathedral. St Altfrid was buried here after his death on August 15, 874, according to his wishes. A Gothic tomb stands over his grave in the east crypt, which is named after him. 

(Information from Wikipedia - 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altfrid)