Right-Believing
Gerberga of Lorraine
A noblewoman of Lorraine honored as a saint, who reposed at Bonn in 995.
- Reposed
- 99510th century
- Place
- Bonn
Life
Gerberga of Lorraine was a lady of the highest European nobility, born around 925, who became the wife of Megingoz of Guelders around 945. She reposed at Bonn in 995 and is honored as a saint. She is the mother of Saint Adelheid of Vilich.
She was a daughter of Godfrey, count palatine of Lotharingia, and Ermentrude, perhaps the eldest daughter of King Charles the Simple. On her father's side she was a granddaughter of Gerhard I of Metz and Oda of Saxony, daughter of Duke Otto I of Saxony.
After the death of their only son, she and Megingoz separated. Gerberga founded Vilich Abbey, northeast of Bonn, oversaw its construction and kept a life of prayer and fasting. She died in 995 and was buried in the abbey. Megingoz died shortly afterwards, after 998.
She is honored as a saint of the West, of the undivided Church; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known.