Mother of the city & country

Salzburg celebrates St. Erentrudis

Figure of a saint(Bild: Erzdioezese Salzburg (eds) / Michaela Greil)

400 years ago, St. Erentrudis was appointed Mother of the City and Province of Salzburg. She was the first abbess of Nonnberg Abbey. A week of festivities will be held in her memory from September 1 to 8. 

The festivities begin on June 30 with a high feast, which includes a crypt mass with individual blessing and a festive service in the collegiate church.

In the fall of 2024, a week of festivities will follow from 4 to 8 September, starting with a ceremony and ending with a procession and a festive service in the cathedral. This will be followed by a public festival in Nonntal.

According to tradition, St. Erentrudis had a deep spiritual connection to her uncle, St. Rupert, and followed him to a foreign country around 696 after she had already led a monastic life.

In the oldest documents, she is described as "consecrated to God, servant of Christ, abbess". Together with her fellow sisters, she not only took care of missions and prayer in early medieval Iuvavum, but also cared for the sick, the poor, adult education (especially for women) and the education of children, especially girls.