Helias of Cologne, Irish

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The ...

and musician, died 1040.

Background

Helias was a native of what is now

County Monaghan County Monaghan ( ; ga, Contae Mhuineacháin) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of Border strategic planning area of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County C ...

, apparently been a

monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...

at the

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whi ...

of Muckno which is now the parish around the town of

Castleblayney Castleblayney (; ) is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town had a population of 3,607 as of the 2016 census. Castleblayney is near the border with County Armagh in Northern Ireland, and lies on the N2 road from Dublin to Derry and Let ...

Trithemius Johannes Trithemius (; 1 February 1462 – 13 December 1516), born Johann Heidenberg, was a German Benedictine abbot and a polymath who was active in the German Renaissance as a lexicographer, chronicler, cryptographer, and occultist. He is consi ...

states that he led "a most austere life, and was on that account an object of hatred to wicked men, who feared his reproof."

Cologne

Helias was elected abbot of Great St. Martin Church,

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...

, 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. He was a "bosom friend and counsellor" of St. Heribert, Archbishop of Cologne.Heribert died in 1021. Heribert's biographer Landberth wrote about his death: "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." Helias was succeeded by Mariolus or Molanus, who died in 1061.

Archbishop Pilgrim

The archbishop of Cologne

Pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of ...

, Heribert's successor, has an inveterate dislike for the Irish monks and for Helios in particular. Departing on a pastoral 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.

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 An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...

: ''Haec tumuli fossa conduntur Praesulis ossa/Heliae miri mirificique viri.''archive.org
Full text of ''The Irish ecclesiastical record''
/ref>

Musician

Helias was a skilled musician, and is held to be the first to introduce

Roman chant Old Roman chant is the liturgical plainchant repertory of the Roman rite of the early Christian Church. It was formerly performed in Rome, and, although it is closely related to Gregorian chant, the two are distinct. Gregorian Chant gradually supp ...

to Cologne.

Jean Mabillon Dom Jean Mabillon, O.S.B., (; 23 November 1632 – 27 December 1707) was a French Benedictine monk and scholar of the Congregation of Saint Maur. He is considered the founder of the disciplines of palaeography and diplomatics. Early life Mabi ...

was of the opinion that he was the ''Stranger and Pilgrim'' to whom

Berno of Reichenau __NOTOC__ Berno (c. 978 – 7 June 1048) was the Abbot of Reichenau from his appointment by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1008. He reformed the Gregorian chant. He compiled a ''tonarius'', dealing with the organisation of the church chants int ...

dedicated ''The Laws of Symphony and Tone''. Reichenau itself was founded in 724 by the Irishman Pirminius.

References

External links

archive.org The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

''The Irish ecclesiastical record''
* standingstones.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helias of Cologne 1040 deaths 11th-century Irish abbots Irish expatriates in Germany Christian clergy from County Monaghan 11th-century Irish writers Medieval Irish musicians Medieval European scribes Year of birth unknown 11th-century German writers 11th-century German clergy Irish-language singers People from Castleblayney