Coloman of Stockerau
Encyclopedia
Saint Coloman of Stockerau (of Melk) (died October 18, 1012) is a saint
of the Catholic Church. He was a monk
of either Irish
or Scottish
origin and of royal lineage who was accused of being a spy
while on penitential
pilgrimage
to Jerusalem. He was stopped and killed at Stockerau
, which lies about fifteen miles from Vienna
, at a time when there were continual skirmishes among Austria
, Moravia
, and Bohemia
.
Coloman spoke no German
, so he could not give an understandable account of himself. He was hanged
alongside several robbers after he was torture
d.
In 1015, his relics were transferred to the Abbey of Melk by Bishop Megingard at the request of Marquis Saint Henry of Austria
, however, decades later were taken to Hungary. Coloman became the object of a popular cult and many churches and chapels in Austria, Swabia
, the Palatinate, Hungary
, and Bavaria
are dedicated to him. He is also venerated in Ireland
.
A legend states that Coloman's body remained incorrupt for eighteen months, and remained undisturbed by birds and beasts. The scaffolding
itself is said to have taken root and to have blossomed with green branches, one of which is preserved under the high altar of the Franciscan
church at Stockerau.
His reliques were taken to Hungary in the middle of the 11th century, and the King Géza I of Hungary
named one of his sons in his honor (King Coloman of Hungary). Later, in the 13th, the younger brother of the King Béla IV of Hungary
was Coloman of Galicia-Lodomeria, receiving also this name in honor to this Saint.
However soon the reliques of Saint Coloman were taken again back from the Cathedral of Székesfehérvár
, and safely delivered to the Melk Abbey in Austria were nowadays are still kept. Many Austrian rulers made modifications to the tomb of this saint, and the actual reliquary was made in barrok style.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Catholic Church. He was a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
of either Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
or Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
origin and of royal lineage who was accused of being a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
while on penitential
Penitential
A penitential is a book or set of church rules concerning the Christian sacrament of penance, a "new manner of reconciliation with God" that was first developed by Celtic monks in Ireland in the sixth century AD.-Origin:...
pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to Jerusalem. He was stopped and killed at Stockerau
Stockerau
Stockerau is a town in the district of Korneuburg in Lower Austria, Austria.Leisure facilities are various: wellness centre, sports centre with three gyms, judo and table tennis gym, skittle alley and football stadium...
, which lies about fifteen miles from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, at a time when there were continual skirmishes among Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
.
Coloman spoke no German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, so he could not give an understandable account of himself. He was hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
alongside several robbers after he was torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d.
Veneration
Henry I, Margrave of Austria
Henry I of Austria , also known as Henry the Strong , was margrave of Austria from 994 until his death.He is the son of Margrave Leopold I from the Babenberg family...
, however, decades later were taken to Hungary. Coloman became the object of a popular cult and many churches and chapels in Austria, Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, the Palatinate, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
are dedicated to him. He is also venerated in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
A legend states that Coloman's body remained incorrupt for eighteen months, and remained undisturbed by birds and beasts. The scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
itself is said to have taken root and to have blossomed with green branches, one of which is preserved under the high altar of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church at Stockerau.
His reliques were taken to Hungary in the middle of the 11th century, and the King Géza I of Hungary
Géza I of Hungary
Géza I was King of Hungary from 1074 until his death. During King Solomon's rule he governed, as Duke, one third of the Kingdom of Hungary. Afterwards, Géza rebelled against his cousin's reign and his followers proclaimed him king...
named one of his sons in his honor (King Coloman of Hungary). Later, in the 13th, the younger brother of the King Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
was Coloman of Galicia-Lodomeria, receiving also this name in honor to this Saint.
However soon the reliques of Saint Coloman were taken again back from the Cathedral of Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
, and safely delivered to the Melk Abbey in Austria were nowadays are still kept. Many Austrian rulers made modifications to the tomb of this saint, and the actual reliquary was made in barrok style.