St. Rupert und st.Virgil

The word “patron” comes from the Latin patronus and means “protector, advocate.” Countries, regions, places, professions, churches, and our diocese all have a patron—a special saint who, through his example in life and faith, should also set an example for the people in the area.

Saint Rupert (Old High German for “the gloriously shining one”), also known as Rupert of Salzburg, Ruprecht, Hrodperht, Hrodpreht, Roudbertus, Rudbertus, or Robert, was born around 650 in Worms and was of high noble origin. He was ordained bishop at the end of the 7th century and came to Regensburg in 696 to Duke Theodor II, to whom he and his followers taught the Christian religion. In gratitude, he received permission from the duke to build churches in suitable locations.

The “discovery” of Salzburg

Rupert traveled by ship down the Danube to Lorch, then through Traun- and Attergau to Juvavum, a ruined town ravaged by the chaos of the migration of peoples. On the site of the current cathedral, he established a church honoring Saint Peter and a monastery, now the oldest surviving one. Duke Theodor’s donation of local salt springs and Rupert’s promotion of salt mining laid the economic groundwork for the town’s growth into a missionary hub, eventually earning the name “Salzburg.”

According to legend, Rupert, and his sovereign Theodbert, the son of Theodor, undertook a sea voyage along the Danube to spread Christianity as far as Hungary. In any case, Rupert laid the foundation for missionary work in more southern regions, including later Styria. Rupert later returned to Worms.

Solemnity on September 24

The exact year of Saint Rupert’s death is unknown, but probably between 716 and 718. His memorial day is generally celebrated on March 27. However, the high feast in the dioceses of Salzburg and Graz-Seckau is celebrated on September 24, the day Rupert’s relics were transferred to Salzburg.

Rupert is depicted as a bishop carrying a barrel of salt. Many churches and parishes in our diocese bear his name (“Ruperti Church”). It is not surprising that he is the patron saint of salt mining and salt workers. “Death steals everything from us, only what we give to the poor remains deposited in heaven.” (St. Rupert)

Virgil, the “Apostle of Carinthia”

Virgil or Virgilius was born in Ireland around 700 and moved to Salzburg as a monk, where he was ordained abbot and bishop. Virgil supported the “antipode theory,” which was also supported by Isidore of Seville and Beda the Venerable. This theory states that people also live on the other side of the earth, which is imagined as a sphere. This earned him severe criticism from contemporaries such as Boniface.

At the request of the Slavic Duke Boruth, Virgil sent Modest us to Carinthia around 755 to help in the fight against the advancing Avars, a circumstance that earned him the title of “Apostle of Carinthia.” Under Virgil, architecture and arts and crafts flourished: he completed the Salzburg Cathedral and built a beautiful tomb for Saint Rupert. Virgil is also known for his literary work. He died in Salzburg on November 27, 784.

He is depicted as a bishop with a model of a church, a money bowl, or a globe. Furthermore, he is considered the patron saint of children and an intercessor during childbirth.

What does this have to do with us?

The region of Styria was under the ecclesiastical sovereignty of the Archbishopric of Salzburg for a long time. When the country developed into an independent principality, Archbishop Eberhard II arranged for parts of his diocese to be separated and several small bishoprics to be founded in his sphere of influence at the beginning of the 13th century. He wanted to avoid political and territorial problems with other rulers. The Diocese of Seckau was founded in 1218. At that time, it was just a narrow strip from Seckau across the Mur Valley and the Stubble into the Kainachtal and to the Mur near Wildon, with 13 parishes. In the diocese’s regulations, Eberhard II stipulated that the Archbishop of Salzburg alone was entitled to appoint a bishop.

As a so-called metropolitan diocese, the ecclesiastical province of Salzburg, which is subordinate to the Salzburg archbishops, still includes the dioceses of Feldkirch, Graz-Seckau, Gurk and Innsbruck. The immense importance of Rupert and Virgil as “master builders” of the Archdiocese of Salzburg also radiates to our diocese