Bischof Ermanrich of Passau (866-874)

Appr. 814	Born as a swabian nobel.
	Benedictine monk in Ellwangen. Temporarly on duty in the monastery of the arch-vicar Grimald in St. Gallen
837-842	Ermanrich writes the life of the anglosaxon hermit Sualo (Sola) of Solnhofen
848-854	Ermanrich writes the life of Hariolf, bishop of Langres, founder of the monastery of Ellwangen,
866	Ermanrich is appointed as Bishop of Passau
867	Bishop Ermanrich tries unsuccessfully to proselytize parts of Bulgaria
868	At the synod of the empire in Worms bishop Ermanrich attracts the special interest of the participants due to his recent experiences in the east of Greece.
870	Ermanrich participates in the advance of the bavarian episcopate against Methodius
873	Bishop Ermanrich is suspended by pope Johannes VIII because of his involvement in taking action against Methodius.
874	Bishop Ermanrich dies

Conclusion: Bishop Ermanrich probably was one of the most powerful and bravest bishop in the history of Passau. He had a great reputation as a scholar and writer. He attracted a lot of attention by his missionary efforts. Although his first attempt to proselytize parts of Bulgaria failed he tried the same in the Great Moravian Reich. This missionary attempt has lead him to the conflict between him and the Slav apostles Kyrill and Method. In the beginning of the 9th century the Great Moravian Reich stretched from Bohemia over the Karpates to the Hungarian Lake Balaton. Passau was a close neighbour to the Great Moravian reign, and therefore bishop Ermanrich regarded it as his duty to proselytize this heathen territory. Although this attempt failed too his efforts contributed to the adjustment of the church in Moravia.

August Leidl: Die Bischöfe von Passau 739 - 1968 in Kurzbiographien (Passau 1978)

working and translation: Volkhard Pfeifle
(23.5.2005)