Saint Adolar was an 8th-century German bishop and missionary who served as a companion to Saint Boniface. While working in the region of Friesland, he was killed by pagan Frisians in Dokkum around 754 or 755. Following his death, his remains were eventually moved to Erfurt, where he is traditionally honored. He is remembered as a martyr who participated in the early missionary efforts of the Catholic Church in Northern Europe.
Life and death
Adolar lived during the mid-8th century and worked alongside Boniface and Eoban. In June 754 or 755, these companions were slain in Dokkum. Their remains were initially transferred from Utrecht to the Abbey of Fulda in 756. Later, before the year 1100, the bones were moved to Erfurt. Legend suggests he served as the initial bishop of the Diocese of Erfurt, which was established by Boniface in 742.
Veneration and legacy
He is the patron saint of Erfurt and is also invoked as a protector of livestock. In religious art, he is often depicted wearing priestly vestments and holding a book, or sometimes appearing in episcopal attire. His relics are housed in a sarcophagus in the Erfurt Cathedral, dating to approximately 1350. The Catholic Church commemorates his feast day on June 5.