Saint Pirmin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Pirmin |
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Late medieval figure of Saint Pirmin at Murbach Abbey
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| Born | 700 somewhere in Spain |
| Died | November 3, 753 Hornbach, Germany |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Anglican Church? |
| Feast | November 3 |
Saint Pirmin was an important monk and missionary who lived a long time ago, from before 700 AD until 753 AD. He was known for starting and helping many monasteries in a part of Europe called Alemannia, which included areas like Alsace and around the Upper Rhine River.
Saint Pirmin's Life Story
Pirmin was probably born in Spain, possibly from a group of people called the Visigoths. Many Visigoths moved to Francia (an old kingdom in Europe) after the Arab armies took over Spain in the early 700s.
Around 718 AD, Pirmin became the leader, or abbot, of a monastery called Quortolodora in Antwerp. He and his students helped the church there. Later, a local leader named Count Rohingus invited Pirmin to stay at his home in Thommen, near Sankt Vith.
Pirmin became friends with Charles Martel, who was a powerful leader in Francia. Charles Martel sent Pirmin to help rebuild a place called Disentis Abbey in what is now Switzerland. In 724 AD, Pirmin was made abbot of Mittelzell Abbey on Reichenau Island, which he had helped to start earlier.
Later, because of some political reasons, Pirmin was sent away to Alsace. He passed away in 753 AD at the abbey in Hornbach, where his body is buried.
Pirmin's Important Work
Pirmin's main work was as a missionary. This means he traveled to teach people about Christianity. He worked mostly in the Alsace region and near the upper parts of the Rhine and Danube rivers.
Besides teaching and helping people convert, he also started or improved many monasteries. Some of these famous places include Amorbach, Gengenbach, Murbach, Wissembourg, Marmoutier, Neuweiler, and Reichenau.
Rich and powerful people, like Odilo of Bavaria, helped Pirmin by giving money to build new monasteries. For example, Odilo helped start Niederaltaich Abbey, and another leader named Werner I helped with the new abbey at Hornbach.
One of Pirmin's most important books is called Dicta Abbatis Pirminii, de Singulis Libris Canonicis Scarapsus. This long title means "Words of Abbot Pirminius, extracts from the Single Canonical Books." The book is a collection of quotes from important Christian thinkers and holy writings. It was probably used by missionaries or read aloud during meals at the monasteries. This book, written between 710 and 724 AD, also contains the earliest known version of the Apostles' Creed, which is a statement of Christian beliefs.
See also
- Saint Boniface
- Saint Willibrord
- Schottenklöster
In Spanish: Pirmino de Reichenau para niños
