ALBERICH HEIDEMANN (1808–1898)
Origin and studies
Alberich Heidemann was born on 27 December 1808 in Jáchymov in house No. 274 as the son of the entrepreneur Josef Heidemann. He attended secondary school in Cheb.
On 3 October 1828 he entered the Cistercian monastery of Lilienfeld in Lower Austria, where he took the monastic name Alberich.
He studied theology and philosophy at the University of Prague and later continued his studies at universities in Vienna and Rome. He was ordained a priest on 31 July 1832 by Bishop Jakob Frint in St. Pölten.
Church career
After his ordination he served as chaplain in Lilienfeld and Unterdürnbach. At the same time he was entrusted with a number of administrative and economic responsibilities within the monastery.
Between 1836 and 1854 he served as a road inspector and from 1838 to 1847 directed the construction of the Mariazellerstraße near St. Pölten.
From 1839 to 1853 he also acted as economic administrator of Lilienfeld Abbey and from 1853 to 1862 served as pastor in Unterretzbach.
Abbot of Lilienfeld
On 24 April 1862 Heidemann was elected abbot of Lilienfeld Abbey by his fellow monks. His election was confirmed three days later by Bishop Ignaz Feigerl.
During his leadership the monastery underwent major reconstruction and partial neo-Gothic restoration under the direction of the architect Domenico Avanzo. He also initiated the restoration or construction of several churches and chapels in the surrounding region.
Public activity
Heidemann was also active in politics. Between 1866 and 1867 he served as a member of the Lower Austrian Diet representing large landowners.
He was also a member of the Imperial Council of Austria-Hungary. In 1879 he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph.
Between 1875 and 1897 he served as assistant of the Austro-Hungarian Cistercian Congregation.
Honours and death
He became an honorary citizen of several Lower Austrian communities: Lilienfeld (1882), Unterretzbach (1892), Türnitz (1892), Traisen (1894) and Eschenau (1894).
Alberich Heidemann died on 16 August 1898 in Lilienfeld and was buried in the abbots’ crypt of the local cemetery.
