THE FOUNDATION OF THE MONASTERY

OF HIRSAU ACCOMPLISHED BY

Count Erlafrid and his son Notting, Bishop of Vercelli, in the year of the Lord’s incarnation 830.

An ornate decorative initial letter S marks the beginning of the text. It features floral scrollwork and a seated figure, likely representing the author or a holy figure, nestled within the curves of the letter.

Count Erlafrid of Calw.

Bishop Notting of Vercelli, his son.

Intending to write, with God's help, the history of the famous monastery of Hirsau, I thought it worthwhile to begin from its first foundation. I wish to show what cause moved the founders themselves to undertake this work. At that time, when Louis I Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne governed the Roman Empire, there lived Erlafrid, Count of Calw. He was a rich man and powerful in the eyes of the Emperor. He had a son named Notting, a man learned in all the teachings of the scriptures. Because of his knowledge of letters and the integrity of his life, Notting had attained the bishopric of the church of Vercelli a city in Northern Italy under the Emperor Charlemagne, the father of Louis. After he had governed his church well for some time according to the church laws, he was struck by a sweet desire to visit his fatherland. So that he might not seem to return empty-handed, he began to consider what special gift he might bring with him to make his homeland more famous. Not long before,

Aurelius is transferred to Vercelli from Milan.

Bishop Notting’s plan.

he had obtained, through the greatest of prayers, the relics of the body of the most holy bishop Aurelius of Armenia original: "Aurelij Armenij". These relics were more precious than jasper and gold. He brought them to his church at Vercelli and placed them in a very beautiful tomb that he had prepared. Therefore, when he decided to visit his country and his dear parents, he deliberated on bringing this treasure to the Germans. His mind fluctuated between hope and fear: he worried that this transfer might displease Saint Aurelius, or that if it were noticed by the people of Vercelli, he would be forced to abandon his plan. He committed the whole matter to divine counsel. Turning his whole mind toward God, he intended to spend a sleepless night near the tomb of the saint. Prostrating himself on the ground, he called upon the same Aurelius, the holy friend of Christ, with burning desire

Notting’s prayer to Saint Aurelius.

and with tears, saying:

Holy father Aurelius, my glory and the only protection of my soul after God: I open the desire of your servant to you. Since you are joined with God, you cannot be ignorant of it. I ask you, through that divine love which made you venerable to me, famous to the church, a healer to the sick, and one holy and immortal with God: do not permit me to drift in this uncertainty any longer. Hear me, your servant prostrate before you, and teach me so that I may know what I ought to do according to the will of God and yourself.

Aurelius appeared to Notting.

When he had continued praying for a long time in tears, lying on the ground, he fell asleep for a little while, exhausted by the prayer and the long watch. As he slept, the holy Aurelius soon stood before him, dressed in bishop’s robes and brighter than the sun. Calling Notting by name, he said: "Peace be with you, brother Notting. Rise and do not weep. I have come for this purpose: so that I may go with you into Germany. Although I am dead in body, I shall bring more people there to Christ than if I were still alive and preaching among the nations, shining with miracles. When you arrive there, you shall establish a monastery for the servants of God in the place where you suddenly see a blind man, who meets us, receive his sight." Having said these things, he vanished. Then the venerable Bishop Notting, rising from sleep, was filled with joy. That very night he secretly opened the stone coffin.

The people of Vercelli were deceived.

He secretly carried away the relics of the most holy Bishop Aurelius into his episcopal house. He left the tomb very carefully closed up again. For a long time, he deceived the people of Vercelli, who thought they still possessed the guest whom they no longer had.