Andreas de Moravia
Encyclopedia
Andreas de Moravia was a 13th century Scottish bishop
. He may have been from the "de Moravia" family of Flemish origin who were lords of Duffus
and other areas in the Greater Moray
region in this period. In the time of Bishop Bricius' episcopate (1203–1222), there was a man called "Andreas" who was rector of the church of St. Peter at Duffus, and this may well have been this Andreas. He may also have been a native Scot
.
Andreas was elected as Bishop of Ross
in 1213. However, he refused to accept the election, and obtained the consent of Pope Innocent III
to resign this position. The reasoning can only be speculated. In 1222 though, Andreas did accept election when, after the death of Bricius the same year, he was elected Bishop of Moray
. Andreas was still bishop-elect on 12 May 1223, when he is called "bishop-elect" in a papal letter; however, by 10 April 1224, he is being styled "bishop", putting the date of his consecration somewhere between these two dates.
One of Andreas' first acts as bishop must have been to submit a request to the Pope asking to move the seat (Latin:
cathedra) of the bishopric from Spynie to Elgin, for on 10 April 1224, the Pope sent Andreas his permission. Andreas' greatest legacy would be Elgin Cathedral
, where all medieval bishops of Moray would have their cathedral (although the bishops themselves kept Spynie Palace
as their chief personal residence.) On 19 July 1224, the foundation stone of the new Elgin Cathedral was ceremoniously laid with completion sometime after 1242. Andreas, as head of one of Scotland's more important bishoprics, also played a role in Scotland's larger political and religious life. For instance, he witnessed charters of king Alexander II
and was the principal consecrator of William de Bondington
as Bishop of Glasgow.
A letter from Pope Gregory IX
, dated to 13 April 1231, instructs the dean
and chapter of Moray that elections to the bishopric should be free. This suggests that the clergy of Moray had some reason to fear Bishop Andreas death, and that perhaps Andreas was ill. No death occurred for another decade, because the bishop died late in the year 1242. He was buried in the south side of the choir under a large blue marble stone.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He may have been from the "de Moravia" family of Flemish origin who were lords of Duffus
Duffus
Duffus is a village in Moray, Scotland, centred on a Mercat Cross. The Duffus Village Inn, along with the local shop, Post Office and Duffus Village Hall provide a focal point for the community. Nearby are the impressive remains of Duffus Castle, St...
and other areas in the Greater Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
region in this period. In the time of Bishop Bricius' episcopate (1203–1222), there was a man called "Andreas" who was rector of the church of St. Peter at Duffus, and this may well have been this Andreas. He may also have been a native Scot
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
.
Andreas was elected as Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
in 1213. However, he refused to accept the election, and obtained the consent of Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
to resign this position. The reasoning can only be speculated. In 1222 though, Andreas did accept election when, after the death of Bricius the same year, he was elected Bishop of Moray
Bishop of Moray
The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...
. Andreas was still bishop-elect on 12 May 1223, when he is called "bishop-elect" in a papal letter; however, by 10 April 1224, he is being styled "bishop", putting the date of his consecration somewhere between these two dates.
One of Andreas' first acts as bishop must have been to submit a request to the Pope asking to move the seat (Latin:
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
cathedra) of the bishopric from Spynie to Elgin, for on 10 April 1224, the Pope sent Andreas his permission. Andreas' greatest legacy would be Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...
, where all medieval bishops of Moray would have their cathedral (although the bishops themselves kept Spynie Palace
Spynie Palace
Spynie Palace, also known as Spynie Castle, was the fortified seat of the Bishops of Moray for about 500 years. The founding of the palace dates back to the late 12th Century. It is situated about 500m from the location of the first officially settled Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Moray, in...
as their chief personal residence.) On 19 July 1224, the foundation stone of the new Elgin Cathedral was ceremoniously laid with completion sometime after 1242. Andreas, as head of one of Scotland's more important bishoprics, also played a role in Scotland's larger political and religious life. For instance, he witnessed charters of king Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
and was the principal consecrator of William de Bondington
William de Bondington
William de Bondington was a 13th century bishop of Glasgow. Before becoming bishop, William was rector of Eddleston, a prebendary of Glasgow, and archdeacon of Lothian. From the year 1231, William was Chancellor of Scotland. He was elected Bishop of Glasgow sometime between 19 May 1232 and June 1233...
as Bishop of Glasgow.
A letter from Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
, dated to 13 April 1231, instructs the dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
and chapter of Moray that elections to the bishopric should be free. This suggests that the clergy of Moray had some reason to fear Bishop Andreas death, and that perhaps Andreas was ill. No death occurred for another decade, because the bishop died late in the year 1242. He was buried in the south side of the choir under a large blue marble stone.