Adalbert, Saint

orig. Vojtech

(born 956, Libice?, Bohemia—died April 23, 997, near Gdansk, Pol.; feast day April 23) Czech prelate. Descended from the princes of Bohemia, he was trained in theology at Magdeburg. Elected the first native bishop of Prague in 982, he promoted the political aims of the Bohemian prince by extending the influence of the church beyond the Czech kingdom. Failing to convert his people, he retired in 988 to a monastery near Rome. On papal orders, he returned in 992 to find little change. Disillusioned, he left Bohemia in 994 to become a missionary along the Baltic coast, where he was martyred in 997. An account of his life was written by his friend and disciple St. Bruno of Querfurt. He was recognized as a saint soon after his death.

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