Boso of Merseburg

Boso of Merseburg was the first bishop of Merseburg in Saxony-⁠Anhalt, called the Apostle of the Wends. He died on 1 November 970 in Bavaria, on a visit to his native land.

He was a Bavarian by birth and a Benedictine monk at the monastery of Saint Emmeram in Regensburg, from where he was called to the court of Otto I. The emperor considered the conversion of the lately subjugated Wends indispensable to the security of the empire and sent Boso to convert them. At first the mission seemed useless, because of the Wends' hatred for the Germans who had taken their liberty. But Boso learned their language to preach to them in their own tongue and gradually won their trust and respect. Otto rewarded him with considerable church revenues.

In 967 or 968 he obtained the creation of three new bishoprics, at Merseburg, Meissen and Zeitz. Merseburg he chose for himself; Hugo, also a Benedictine monk, became bishop at Zeitz, and Burchard at Meissen. All three were consecrated on Christmas Day 968 by their metropolitan, Adalbert of Magdeburg. Near Zeitz, in a forest, Boso built a stone church in a place he named after himself (Buosenrod); a Sorbian sacred grove was cleared for it. He continued his missionary work but died in Bavaria. He was buried in the church of Saint John in Merseburg and was succeeded by Gisilher.

He is honored as a blessed and remembered on 1 November or 29 December. He is a saint of the West, of the undivided Church; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known.