WHEN, BY WHOM, AND IN THE

presence of which witnesses, the dedication and

consecration of the first monastery

of Hirsau was performed.

Assembly of princes in Speyer.

At that time, a serious conflict over the empire was taking place between Emperor Louis Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, who reigned from 814 to 840. and his sons. It happened that the assembly of princes, to which we previously mentioned Erlafrid was called in Frankfurt, was moved to the city of the Nemetes, which we commonly call Speyer. Since this city is not far from Hirsau, it provided the most Christian count with the cause and opportunity to perform the dedication of his newly founded monastery with greater solemnity. Many bishops, abbots, and princes had gathered, called to the Imperial synod. At Count Erlafrid's invitation, several of them attended the office of dedication.

The church and monastery of Hirsau are dedicated.

Therefore, in the year of our Lord 838, in the first indiction A fifteen-year cycle used in the Middle Ages to date documents., in the month of September, Otgar, the most reverend bishop of the church of Mainz, consecrated the monastery of Hirsau. He did this at the request of Count Erlafrid and his son Ermefrid. The monastery was dedicated in honor of Peter, the prince of the Apostles, and Saint Aurelius the bishop Aurelius of Riditio was a 5th-century Armenian bishop whose relics were brought to Germany.. This took place in the presence of many princes, bishops, and abbots who were following the Emperor's court at that time.

Bishops who were present.

There were present Hildebold, the archbishop of Cologne; Willerich, the bishop of Bremen in Saxony; Ebbo, the bishop of Hildesheim; and Thiagrius, the bishop of Halberstadt.

Abbots and dukes present.

Also present were Rabanus Maurus, the abbot of Fulda; Benno, the abbot of Hersfeld and brother of Lintbert, the first abbot of this Hirsau; Hilduin, the abbot of Saint Denis and archchaplain of the sacred palace; Duke Henry; Duke Bernhard; Duke Bruno; Ludolph his son; Count Erlafrid, the founder of the monastery; Ermefrid his son; Count Ortrung; Count Adelhard; and many others. Their names, along with those written above, were not included in the book of the deeds of Bishop Otgar, or perhaps they were omitted by the carelessness of the scribes.

The body of Saint Aurelius is transferred into the monastery.

When the consecration of the church had been solemnly performed according to custom, Archbishop Otgar, together with the other bishops, abbots, and princes, brought the body of the most holy prelate Aurelius from the chapel of Saint Nazarius. It was brought with great devotion and honorably enclosed within the high altar. Through his merit, many miracles occurred.

The body of Saint Aurelius is hidden.

However, fifty-three years later, during the reign of Emperor Arnulf, the Northmen Viking raiders who frequently attacked Frankish territories in the late 9th century. devastated Worms. Abbot Hardrad feared that such holy relics might fall into the hands of foreigners through some trickery or violence. Following the advice of the brothers, he built a subterranean vault in the church. In this vault, he placed the body of Aurelius, the precious confessor of Christ, in a stone sarcophagus. He included an inscription of his name and rank. He then covered the chamber again with earth so that no one could later suspect anything was hidden there. This great treasure of relics remained hidden under the earth for nearly one hundred and seventy years. It stayed there until the time of Count Adalbert, who renewed Hirsau under Emperor Henry IV. During that time, the location was almost forgotten. Only the fame of it, passed down from grandfathers to grandsons, declared that the body of Saint Aurelius rested in the monastery of Hirsau. We will speak of this more extensively in its proper place.

Lintbert becomes abbot in Hirsau.

After the most sacred body of Aurelius was enclosed in the high altar by Archbishop Otgar with the greatest reverence, as we mentioned, Lintbert received the staff of pastoral care from the same Archbishop in the sight of everyone. This was done at the request of Count Erlafrid and the monks. Then, Count Erlafrid approached the altar with his son. In the presence of all who were there, he handed over to Almighty God and his saints, Peter the Apostle and Aurelius the bishop, the property of Hirsau.