List of bishops, prince-bishops, and administrators of Schwerin
Encyclopedia
This list records the bishops of the Roman Catholic diocese of Schwerin , a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bremen, who were simultaneously rulers of princely rank (prince-bishop) in the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin , a state of imperial immediacy within the Holy Roman Empire
. Schwerin
was the seat of the chapter
, Schwerin Cathedral
and residence of the bishops until 1239. In 1180 a prince-episcopal residence was established in Bützow
and became the main residence since 1239.
and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishopric was an elective monarchy
, with the monarch being the respective bishop usually elected by the Cathedral chapter
, and confirmed by the Holy See
, or exceptionally only appointed by the Holy See. Papally confirmed bishops were then invested by the emperor with the princely regalia
, thus the title prince-bishop. However, sometimes the respective incumbent of the see never gained a papal confirmation, but was still invested the princely regalia. Also the opposite occurred with a papally confirmed bishop, never invested as prince. A number of incumbents, elected by the chapter, neither achieved papal confirmation nor imperial investiture
, but as a matter of fact nevertheless de facto
held the princely power. From 1532 to 1648 all incumbents were Lutherans.
The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles:
}
es became independent and adapted their new Church Orders
, providing for a function called Landesbischof
(state bishop). In 1934 the regional churches merged into the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Mecklenburg.
– were part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück, before they were taken care by the Apostolic Vicariate of the Northern Missions of Northern Germany, with the first post-Reformatory parish having been established in 1709 (St. Anna, Schwerin). After Mecklenburg had become part of the Soviet occupation zone, whereas Osnabrück was in the British zone, the Bishop of Osnabrück appointed an episcopal commissary. Since 1959 the Osnabrück diocese posted an auxiliary bishop
in Schwerin, responsible for Mecklenburg's Catholic parishes. In 1994 the Catholic parishes of Mecklenburg became part of the new Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
was the seat of the chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
, Schwerin Cathedral
Schwerin Cathedral
Schwerin Cathedral, as old as the city itself, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint John, was built following the move of the seat of the Bishopric of the Abodrites, established by Henry the Lion, to Schwerin from Mecklenburg in the late 12th century. At first a timber construction served the...
and residence of the bishops until 1239. In 1180 a prince-episcopal residence was established in Bützow
Bützow
Bützow is a town in the district of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany, with a population of 8,122 .The town was first mentioned in 1171....
and became the main residence since 1239.
Titles of the incumbents of the Schwerin See
Not all incumbents of the Schwerin See were imperially invested princely power as Prince-Bishops and not all were papally confirmed as bishops. In 1180 part of the Schwerin diocesan territory were disentangled from the Duchy of SaxonyDuchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishopric was an elective monarchy
Elective monarchy
An elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by an elected rather than hereditary monarch. The manner of election, the nature of the candidacy and the electors vary from case to case...
, with the monarch being the respective bishop usually elected by the Cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
, and confirmed by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, or exceptionally only appointed by the Holy See. Papally confirmed bishops were then invested by the emperor with the princely regalia
Regalia
Regalia is Latin plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a Sovereign.The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'...
, thus the title prince-bishop. However, sometimes the respective incumbent of the see never gained a papal confirmation, but was still invested the princely regalia. Also the opposite occurred with a papally confirmed bishop, never invested as prince. A number of incumbents, elected by the chapter, neither achieved papal confirmation nor imperial investiture
Investiture
Investiture, from the Latin is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent...
, but as a matter of fact nevertheless de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
held the princely power. From 1532 to 1648 all incumbents were Lutherans.
The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles:
- BishopBishop (Catholic Church)In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of MecklenburgDorf MecklenburgDorf Mecklenburg is a municipality in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
until 1162 - Bishop of Schwerin 1162 to 1181
- Prince-BishopPrince-BishopA Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
of Schwerin from 1181 to 1516, except o the years of 1474 to 1479 and 1506 to 1508 - Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin 1474 to 1479, 1506 to 1508, and again 1516 to 1648. Either simply de facto replacing the Prince-Bishop or lacking canon-law prerequisites the incumbent of the see would officially only hold the title administrator (but nevertheless colloquially referred to as Prince-Bishop).
Catholic Bishops of Mecklenburg and Schwerin (1053–1181)
| Catholic Bishops of Mecklenburg and Schwerin (1053–1181) | |||||
| Episcopate | Portrait | Name | Birth and death with places |
Reason for end of office |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1053–1066 | John Scotus |
*approx. 990 – 10 November 1066* | death | martyr Martyr A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:... , sacrificed by pagans to Radegast Radegast (god) Radegast, also Radigost, Redigast, Riedegost or Radogost, is mentioned by Adam of Bremen in his Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum as the deity worshipped in the Lutician city of Rethra. Likewise, Helmold in his Chronica Slavorum wrote of Radegast as a Lutician god... |
|
| 1066–1148 | sede vacante Sede vacante Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church... |
the see was abandoned after the Wendish Wends Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used... uprising |
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| 1148–1162 | Eberhard also: Emmehard |
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| 1162–1191 | Berno of Amelungsborn Berno, Apostle of the Obotrites Berno, Bishop of Schwerin, also known as the Apostle of the Obotrites or Berno of Amelungsborn was a pre-eminent missionary to the Obotrites in the territory of Mecklenburg, Germany, and the first Bishop of Schwerin.- Life :... |
*unknown – 14 January 1191* | death | Apostle of the Obotrites Obotrites The Obotrites , also commonly known as the Obodrites, Abotrites, or Abodrites, were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany . For decades they were allies of Charlemagne in his wars against Germanic Saxons and Slavic... , gained princely power in part of his diocese by 1181 on the carve-up of Saxony Duchy of Saxony The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein... |
|
Catholic Prince-Bishops (1181–1474)
| Roman Catholic Prince-Bishops of Schwerin (1181–1474) | |||||
| Reign and episcopate | Portrait | Name | Birth and death with places |
Reason for end of office |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1162–1191 | Berno of Amelungsborn Berno, Apostle of the Obotrites Berno, Bishop of Schwerin, also known as the Apostle of the Obotrites or Berno of Amelungsborn was a pre-eminent missionary to the Obotrites in the territory of Mecklenburg, Germany, and the first Bishop of Schwerin.- Life :... |
*unknown – 14 January 1191* | death | Apostle of the Obotrites Obotrites The Obotrites , also commonly known as the Obodrites, Abotrites, or Abodrites, were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany . For decades they were allies of Charlemagne in his wars against Germanic Saxons and Slavic... , gained princely power in part of his diocese by 1181 on the carve-up of Saxony Duchy of Saxony The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein... |
|
| 1191–1238 | Brunward | ||||
| 1191–1195 | Hermann of Hagen |
anti-bishop | |||
| 1238–1240 | Frederick of Hagen as Frederick I |
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| 1240–1247 | Dietrich | ||||
| 1247–1249 | William | ||||
| 1249–1262 | Rudolph I | *unknown – 1262* | death | ||
| 1263–1291 | Hermann of Schladen as Hermann I |
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| 1292–1314 | Godfrey von Bülow as Godfrey I (Bülow family) |
*unknown – 1314* | death | uncle of Henry I and Ludolph | |
| 1315–1322 | Hermann von Maltzan as Hermann II |
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| 1322–1331 | Johann Gans zu Putlitz as John I (Gans zu Putlitz family) |
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| 1331–1339 | left image |
Ludolph von Bülow (Bülow family) |
*before 1298 – 23 April 1339*, Warin Warin Warin is a town in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 19 km southeast of Wismar.... |
death | nephew of Godfrey I, brother of the next, uncle of Frederick II |
| 1339–1347 | right image |
Henry von Bülow as Henry I (Bülow family) |
*unknown – 1347* | death | brother of the former, nephew of Godfrey I, uncle of Frederick II |
| 1347–1348 | Willekin Pape | ||||
| 1348–1356 | Andrew of Wislica | ||||
| 1356–1363 | Albert of Sternberg German: Albrecht |
*c. 1333 – 14 January 1380*, Litomyšl Litomyšl Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:... |
became Bishop of Litomyšl | also Bishop of Litomyšl (1364–1368, and again 1371–1380), Prince-Archbishop of Magdeburg (1368–1371) | |
| 1363–1365 | Rudolph of Anhalt as: Rudolph II (House of Ascania) |
*unknown – 1365*, Coswig in Anhalt Coswig, Anhalt Coswig is a town in the district of Wittenberg of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approx. 12 km west of Wittenberg, and 15 km east of Dessau.- History :... |
son of Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.... |
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| 1366–1377 | Frederick von Bülow as: Frederick II (Bülow family) |
*unknown – 1366* | death | nephew of Ludolph and Henry I | |
| 1377–1381 | Melchior of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Grubenhagen Melchior von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen Melchior of Brunswick and Lunenburg was a German aristocrat, prince-bishop of Osnabrück from 1369, and then prince-bishop of Schwerin from 1376 to 1381.... (House of Welf) |
*1341 – 6 June 1384* | before Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück was a prince-bishopric centred on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück. The diocese was erected in 772 and is the oldest see founded by Charlemagne, in order to Christianize the conquered stem-duchy of Saxony.... (1369–1375); rivalled in Schwerin by anti-bishop Marquard in 1377/1378 |
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| 1377–1378 | Marquard Bermann | anti-bishop | |||
| 1381–1390 | Potho of Pothenstein also: Pottenstein as John III |
*unknown – 1390* | death | before Prince-Bishop of Münster (1379–1382) appointed only, de facto he could not prevail over his rivals in Schwerin | |
| 1381–1388 | Johann Junge as John IV |
anti-bishop | |||
| 1381–? | Gerard of Hoya (Counts of Hoya) |
anti-bishop | |||
| 1390–1415 | Rudolph of Mecklenburg-Stargard as: Rudolph III (House of Nikloting) |
*unknown – 1415* | death | before Bishop of Skara (1387–1391), son of John I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard John I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard John I, Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard] , was from 1344 to 1352 Duke of Mecklenburg and from 1352 to 1392 Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard.- Family :... |
|
| 1416–1418 | Henry of Nauen as Henry II |
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| 1419–1429 | Henry of Wangelin as Henry III |
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| 1429–1444 | Hermann Köppen as Hermann III |
*unknown – 3 January 1444* | death | ||
| 1444–1457 | Nicholas Bödeker as Nicholas I |
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| 1458 | Godfrey Lange as Godfrey II |
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| 1458–1473 | Werner Wolmers |
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Catholic Administrators and Prince-bishops (1474–1532)
| Catholic Administrators and Prince-Bishops (1474–1532) | |||||
| Reign and episcopate | Portrait | Name | Birth and death with places |
Reason for end of office |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1474–1479 | Balthasar of Mecklenburg Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg Balthasar of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg, Coadjutor and administrator of the Diocese of Hildesheim and the Diocese of Schwerin from 1474 to 1479.... (House of Nikloting) |
*1451 – 16 March 1507*, Wismar Wismar Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The... |
resigned tired from pursuing investiture, turned secular | before Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Hildesheim (1471–1474); only administrator, never invested bishop; since duke in Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV... , co-ruling with his brother Magnus II |
|
| 1479–1482 | Nicholas of Pentz as Nicholas II |
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| 1482–1503 | Conrad Loste |
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| 1504–1506 | John Thun as John V |
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| 1504 | Reimar von Hahn (Hahn family Von Hahn von Hahn is the name of the German-Baltic-Russian noble family with the coat of arms: Striding red rooster on the silver shield.-Origin:... ) |
anti-bishop | |||
| 1506–1508 | Ulrich von Malchow | only administrator, never invested as bishop | |||
| 1508–1516 | Petrus Wolkow |
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| 1516–1522 | Zutpheld Wardenberg |
only administrator for the minor Magnus, also Dean (Domdechant) Dean -Title:* Dean * Dean , persons in certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy* The head of a Bar association or equivalent body in some jurisdictions... of Schwerin Cathedral Schwerin Cathedral Schwerin Cathedral, as old as the city itself, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint John, was built following the move of the seat of the Bishopric of the Abodrites, established by Henry the Lion, to Schwerin from Mecklenburg in the late 12th century. At first a timber construction served the... |
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| 1522–1532 | Heinrich Banzkow also: Banzcow or Bantzkow |
*before 1499–1540* | resigned when Megnus came of age | only administrator for the minor Magnus, never pursued investiture as bishop; also provost Provost (religion) A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary... of Hamburg Cathedral |
|
Lutheran Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1532–1648)
| Lutheran Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1532–1648) | |||||
| Reign and episcopate | Portrait | Name | Birth and death with places |
Reason for end of office |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1532–1550 | Magnus of Mecklenburg | Stargard Burg Stargard Burg Stargard is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated southeast of Neubrandenburg.Burg Stargard is a small town in Mecklenburg Strelitz... , *4 July 1509 – 28 January 1550*, Bützow Bützow Bützow is a town in the district of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany, with a population of 8,122 .The town was first mentioned in 1171.... |
death | bishop elect since 1516, due to minority only officiating since 1532 as administrator, due to lack of papal confirmation, Magnus introduced the Reformation Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led... in 1533 |
|
| 1550–1603 |  |
Ulrich of Mecklenburg as Ulrich I (House of Nikloting) |
Schwerin Schwerin Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:... , *5 March 1527 – 14 March 1603*, Güstrow Güstrow Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located... |
death | grandfather of the next; also duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1555–1603) |
| 1603–1624 | Ulrik of Denmark Ulrik of Denmark (1578–1624) Prince Ulrik John of Denmark, was a son of King Frederick II of Denmark and his consort, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow... as Ulrich II (House of Oldenburg House of Oldenburg The House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe's most influential Royal Houses with branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Russia, Greece, Norway, Schleswig, Holstein, Oldenburg and Sweden... ) |
Koldinghus Koldinghus Koldinghus is a Danish royal castle on the south central part of the Jutland peninsula in the town of Kolding. The castle was founded in the 11th century and was expanded since with many functions ranging from fortress, royal residency, ruin, museum, and the location of numerous wartime... Palace, Kolding Kolding Kolding is a Danish seaport located at the head of Kolding Fjord in Region of Southern Denmark . It is the site of the council Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing centre, and has numerous industrial companies, principally geared towards shipbuilding... , *30 December 1578 – 27 March 1624*, Rühn Rühn Rühn is a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.... |
death | grandson of the former, uncle of the next; also Lutheran Bishop of Schleswig (1602–1624) | |
| 1624–1629 |  |
Ulrik of Denmark Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633) Prince Ulrik of Denmark, was a son of King Christian IV of Denmark and his consort Queen Anne Catherine of Brandenburg... as Ulrich III (House of Oldenburg House of Oldenburg The House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe's most influential Royal Houses with branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Russia, Greece, Norway, Schleswig, Holstein, Oldenburg and Sweden... ) |
Frederiksborg Palace Frederiksborg Palace Frederiksborg castle is a castle in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. The current building replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II, and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia... , Hillerød Hillerød Hillerød Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden . The municipality covers an area of 191 km² , and has a total population of 46,568... , *2 February 1611 - 12 August 1633*, Schweidnitz |
resigned when his father Christian IV Christian IV of Denmark Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects... renounced posts held by his family in the Empire in 1629 (Treaty of Lübeck Treaty of Lübeck Treaty or Peace of Lübeck ended the Danish intervention in the Thirty Years' War . It was signed in Lübeck on 22 May 1629 by Albrecht von Wallenstein and Christian IV of Denmark, and on 7 June by Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. The Catholic League was formally included as a party... ) |
nephew of the former; since 1628 de facto deposed by Wallenstein's conquest of the prince-bishopric |
| 1629–1634 | sede vacante Sede vacante Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church... |
territory of the Prince-Bishopric was part of Wallenstein's duchy of Mecklenburg | |||
| 1634–1648 | -statue.jpg) |
Adolf Frederick of Mecklenburg (House of Nikloting) |
Schwerin, *15 December 1588 – 27 February 1658*, Schwerin | prince-bishopric transformed into principality by Peace of Westphalia Peace of Westphalia The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the... |
also Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as Adolphus Frederick I (1592–1628, and again 1631–1658) |
| after 15 May 1648 | The Prince-Bishopric was converted into a heritable monarchy, the Principality of Schwerin, ruled in personal union Personal union A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state... by the House of Nikloting in Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV... . |
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Lutheran Regional Bishops of Mecklenburg since 1921
When the grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz abdicated the Lutheran state churchState church
State churches are organizational bodies within a Christian denomination which are given official status or operated by a state.State churches are not necessarily national churches in the ethnic sense of the term, but the two concepts may overlap in the case of a nation state where the state...
es became independent and adapted their new Church Orders
Church Order (Lutheran)
The Church Order or Church Ordinance means the general ecclesiastical constitution of a State.The early Evangelical Church attached less importance to ecclesiastical ritual than the pre-Reformation Church had done...
, providing for a function called Landesbischof
Landesbischof
A Landesbischof is the head of some Protestant Landeskirche in Germany. Based on the principle of the summepiscopat, the Lutheran princes assumed the position of Head of Church in their territory after the Reformation...
(state bishop). In 1934 the regional churches merged into the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Mecklenburg.
Bishops of Mecklenburg
- 1921–1933: Gerhard Tolzien (for Mecklenburg-Strelitz)
- 1921–1930: Heinrich Behm (for Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
- 1930–1934: Heinrich Rendtorff (for Mecklenburg-Schwerin, at last also leading the merged church body of all of Mecklenburg)
- 1934–1945: Walter Schultz
- 1946–1971: Niklot Beste
- 1971–1984: Heinrich Rathke
- 1984–1996: Christoph Stier
- 1996–2007: Hermann Beste
- 2007 to date: Andreas von Maltzahn
Roman Catholic bishops in Schwerin since 1946
Since 1930 the Catholic parishes in the former diocese of Schwerin – and all of MecklenburgMecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
– were part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück, before they were taken care by the Apostolic Vicariate of the Northern Missions of Northern Germany, with the first post-Reformatory parish having been established in 1709 (St. Anna, Schwerin). After Mecklenburg had become part of the Soviet occupation zone, whereas Osnabrück was in the British zone, the Bishop of Osnabrück appointed an episcopal commissary. Since 1959 the Osnabrück diocese posted an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
in Schwerin, responsible for Mecklenburg's Catholic parishes. In 1994 the Catholic parishes of Mecklenburg became part of the new Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg.
Incumbents
- 1946–1959: Bernhard Schräder, episcopal commissary for the episcopal commissariate of Schwerin
- 1959–1971: Bernhard Schräder, auxiliary bishopAuxiliary bishopAn auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Osnabrück diocese for the episcopal commissariate in Schwerin - 1971–1973: Heinrich Theissing, coadjutor of Osnabrück diocese for the episcopal commissariate in Schwerin
- 1973–1987: Heinrich Theissing, Apostolic administratorApostolic AdministratorAn apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
with episcopal rights of a residing bishop for the episcopal office in Schwerin - 1987–1992 Theodor Hubrich, apostolic administrator with episcopal rights of a residing bishop for the episcopal office in Schwerin
- 1992–1994 Norbert Werbs, diocesan administrator for the episcopal office in Schwerin
- 1994 to date: Norbert Werbs, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hamburg for the archiepiscopal office in Schwerin, also episcopal vicar for Mecklenburg
Sources
- Josef Traeger, Die Bischöfe des mittelalterlichen Bistums Schwerin, Leipzig: St.-Benno-Verlag, 1984.