Helias of Cologne
Encyclopedia
Helias of Cologne, Irish
abbot
, musician
and composer
, died 1040.
, apparently been a monk
at the monastery
of Muckno which is now the parish around the town of Castleblayney
. Trithemius states that he led a most austere
life, and was on that account an object of hatred to wicked men, who feared his reproof. He was a close friend of Archbishop
Heribert of Cologne
.
Heribert died in 1021. According to a biography of Heribert, when this illustrious prelate felt his end approach, he sent for his beloved Helias, who prepared him for death, and administered to him the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and all the final consolations of the Church.
, Cologne
, in 1015. In the same year, he became ruler of St. Pantaleon's; both monasteries would remain under his rule till his death in 1040.
visit, he vowed to expel them all upon his return. Helias is said to have prayed to God that if it was his will, they would depart but if not, Pilgrim would never return to Cologne. Pilgrim died at Neomagnus in 1036. However, the story is believed to be more legend
than fact
. Helias is said to have established a good relationship with Pilgrim's successor, Herman II (Archbishop of Cologne)
was of the opinion that he was the Stranger and Pilgrim to whom Berno of Reichanau dedicated The Laws of Symphony and Tone. Richanau itself was founded in 724 by the Irishman Piminius.
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...
abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, died 1040.
Background
Helias was a native of what is now County MonaghanCounty Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, apparently been 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...
at the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Muckno which is now the parish around the town of Castleblayney
Castleblayney
Castleblayney or Castleblaney is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town has a population of about 3,000.Castleblayney lies near the border with County Armagh and is on the N2 road from Dublin to Derry...
. Trithemius states that he led a most austere
Austere
Austere is the first release by the band Sparta, just one year after break-up of their former band At the Drive-In.-Track listing:#"Mye" – 3:33#"Cataract" – 5:09#"Vacant Skies" – 3:32#"Echodyne Harmonic " – 3:50-Personnel:...
life, and was on that account an object of hatred to wicked men, who feared his reproof. He was a close friend of Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Heribert of Cologne
Heribert of Cologne
Saint Heribert was Archbishop of Cologne and Chancellor of Emperor Otto III, and was canonized c. 1074.-Life:He was born in Worms, the son of Hugo, count of Worms. He was educated in the school of Worms Cathedral and at the Benedictine Gorze Abbey in Lorraine...
.
Heribert died in 1021. According to a biography of Heribert, when this illustrious prelate felt his end approach, he sent for his beloved Helias, who prepared him for death, and administered to him the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and all the final consolations of the Church.
Cologne
Helias was elected abbot of Great St. Martin ChurchGreat St. Martin Church
The Great Saint Martin Church is a Romanesque Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. Its foundations rest on remnants of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the Rhine. The church was later transformed into a Benedictine monastery...
, Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, in 1015. In the same year, he became ruler of St. Pantaleon's; both monasteries would remain under his rule till his death in 1040.
Archbishop Pilgrim
Pilgrim (archbishop), Heribert's successor, disliked the Irish monks. Departing on a pastoralPastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
visit, he vowed to expel them all upon his return. Helias is said to have prayed to God that if it was his will, they would depart but if not, Pilgrim would never return to Cologne. Pilgrim died at Neomagnus in 1036. However, the story is believed to be more legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
than fact
Fact
A fact is something that has really occurred or is actually the case. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability, that is whether it can be shown to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts...
. Helias is said to have established a good relationship with Pilgrim's successor, Herman II (Archbishop of Cologne)
Rule as abbot
According to Hogan, Helias ran both "St. Martin and St. Pantaleon's, with the greatest success. He was remarkable, however, for uncommon strictness in the enforcement of discipline. A French monk of St. Pantaleon having written, without permission, a neat copy of the Missal for the use of the community, Helias burned it, lest others should presume to act without previous licence. He died in the odour of sanctity, and was buried in the chapel of St. Benedict, with the epitaph:Haec tumuli fossa conduntur Praesulis ossa/Heliae miri mirificique viri."Musician and composer
Helias was a skilled musician, and is held to be the first to introduce Roman chant to Cologne. Jean MabillonJean Mabillon
Jean Mabillon was a French Benedictine monk and scholar, considered the founder of palaeography and diplomatics.-Early career:...
was of the opinion that he was the Stranger and Pilgrim to whom Berno of Reichanau dedicated The Laws of Symphony and Tone. Richanau itself was founded in 724 by the Irishman Piminius.
See also
- TilmoTilmo-Background:Tilmo was a native of Ireland, though from what region is unknown. He had once been a soldier, then became a monk, and finally a preacher.-Cologne:...
, founder of St. Martin's, fl. 690. - Arnold of St. Martin'sArnold of St. Martin'sArnold of St. Martin's, Irish Abbott, died 1103.Hogan states that Arnold was the last Irish abbot of Great St. Martin Church, quoting a chronicle of Cologne, which states:Ultimus ille fuit praesul de gente Scotorum.-See also:...
, last Irish abbot, died 1103. - Berno of ReichenauBerno of ReichenauBerno was the Abbot of Reichenau from his appointment by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1008. He reformed the Gregorian chant...
Reference
- Irish Monasteries in Germany, J.F. Hogan, pp. 526–535, Irish Ecclesiastical Record, 4th series, Vol. 3, 1898.
External links
- http://www.archive.org/stream/s4irishecclesias03dubluoft#page/526/mode/2up
- http://www.standingstones.com/irishem.html