ERMENGARDIS OF BERG, ABBESS - 4 NOVEMBER

 

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ERMENGARDIS OF BERG, ABBESS

Ermgard's Pectoral

Ermgard van den Bergh [Ermengardis of Berg, Irmgard] was a daughter of Adam II van den Bergh and Hedwig van Randerode. She was elected abbess of the Elten Abbey on June 4, 1334, succeeding Mabelia van Batenborch. After Ermgard I and Ermgard II, she was the third abbess named Ermgard.

Shortly after her election as abbess, a precious pectoral was made, which is now preserved in the treasury of Saint Martin's Church in Emmerich. A pectoral is a pectoral cross (crux pectoralis in Latin) worn by cardinals, bishops, and other high-ranking clergy on a chain around their necks. Ermgard, however, used her pectoral as a clasp on her choir robe.

The centre of the cross depicts Saint Vitus with a lion. He was the patron saint of the Elten Abbey. On the right arm (as the wearer saw it) is her father's coat of arms, and on the left arm, her mother's. The same two coats of arms were once also depicted on a now-lost stained-glass window in the church of Hoog-Elten [Hochelten].

Abbess Ermgard died on July 25, 1365 in the monastery and was succeeded by Elza van Holzate. The Necrologium of Elten lists her date of death as VIII Kal. Aug. milles CCC LXV.

She was commemorated on November 4 ( II Nona Nov.):

m[emoria] D[omi]ne Yrmgardis Abb[attiss]e de bo[nis] in redebr[oke] jm[a]rc[a].

(In memory of Lady Ermgard Abbess. From the property in Redebroek, 1 mark.)

The inscriptions indicate that she was buried in her abbey.

Source: https://www.berghapedia.nl/index.php/Ermgard_van_den_Bergh

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