Editing Adalbert of Prague (section)

==Veneration and relics==
[[File:Catedral de Gniezno, Gniezno, Polonia, 2014-09-17, DD 25-27 HDR.jpg|thumb|upright|Silver coffin of Adalbert, Cathedral in Gniezno]]
[[File:Dystynktorium kanonicki Gennadij Jerszow.JPG|thumb|upright|Canonical cross of Saint Adalbert by [[Giennadij Jerszow]]. Collegiate Capitol in [[Gdańsk]]. Silver-Gold 2011]]
[[File:Adalbert of Prague.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Saint Adalbert in Prague]]
A few years after his martyrdom, Adalbert was [[canonization|canonized]] as '''Saint Adalbert of Prague.''' His life was written in ''Vita Sancti Adalberti Pragensis'' by various authors, the earliest being traced to imperial [[Aachen]] and the Bishop of [[Liège]], [[Notger von Lüttich]], although it was previously assumed that the [[Rome|Roman]] monk [[John Canaparius]] wrote the first ''Vita'' in 999. Another famous biographer of Adalbert was [[Bruno of Querfurt]] who wrote a hagiography of him in 1001–4.

Notably, the Přemyslid rulers of Bohemia initially refused to ransom Adalbert's body from the Prussians who murdered him, and therefore it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by Adalbert's belonging to the Slavniks family which was rival to the Přemyslids. Thus Adalbert's bones were preserved in [[Gniezno]], which assisted [[Boleslaus I of Poland]] in increasing Polish political and diplomatic power in Europe.

According to Bohemian accounts, in 1039 the Bohemian Duke [[Bretislav I]] looted the bones of Adalbert from Gniezno in a raid and translated them to [[Prague]]. According to Polish accounts, however, he stole the wrong relics, namely those of Gaudentius, while the Poles concealed Adalbert's relics which remain in [[Gniezno]]. In 1127 his severed head, which was not in the original purchase according to ''Roczniki Polskie'', was discovered and translated to Gniezno. In 1928, one of the arms of Adalbert, which Bolesław I had given to [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Holy Roman Emperor Otto III]] in 1000, was added to the bones preserved in Gniezno. Therefore, today Adalbert has two elaborate shrines in the [[Prague Cathedral]]<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/relics-of-bohemias-patron-saint-adalbert-find-new-resting-placeRelics| title = of Behemia's patron saint Adalbert find new resting place}}</ref> and [[Gniezno Cathedral|Royal Cathedral of Gniezno]], each of which claims to possess his relics, but which of these bones are his authentic relics is unknown. For example, pursuant to both claims two skulls are attributed to Adalbert. The one in Gniezno was stolen in 1923.

The massive bronze [[Gniezno Doors|doors]] of [[Gniezno Cathedral]], dating from around 1175, are decorated with eighteen [[relief]]s of scenes from Adalbert's life. They are the only [[Romanesque art|Romanesque]] ecclesiastical doors in Europe depicting a cycle illustrating the life of a saint, and therefore are a precious relic documenting Adalbert's martyrdom. We can read that door literally and theologically.

The one thousandth anniversary of Adalbert's martyrdom was on 23 April 1997. It was commemorated in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, and other nations. Representatives of [[Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], and [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] churches traveled on a pilgrimage to Adalbert's tomb located in Gniezno. [[Pope John Paul II]] visited the cathedral and celebrated a liturgy there in which heads of seven European nations and approximately one million faithful participated.

A ten-meter cross was erected near the village of Beregovoe (formerly Tenkitten), [[Kaliningrad Oblast]], where Adalbert is thought to have been martyred by the Prussians.