Bishop Otto of Bamberg

A native of Swabia, Otto was in his youth a chaplain at the court of the Polish ruler Władysław Herman, later chancellor to the German Emperor Henry IV, founder of numerous German monastic centres, and appointed Bishop of Bamberg. Invited by Bolesław the Wrymouth, he twice set out on a mission of Christianisation to West Pomerania in 1124 and 1128. With the cooperation of the local dukes, he baptised many inhabitants and founded and equipped numerous churches. He thus completed the long and turbulent process of Christianising West Pomerania, the last non-Christian area on the map of Europe at that time. St. Otto is a patron of the archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień, Berlin, Bamberg, Pomerania and Pyrzyce. The origin of the sculpture is connected to the foundation of Pomeranian Duke Barnim III and the medieval development of Castle Hill in Szczecin. The griffin motif on the buckle of the bishop's cope and the coat of arms on the console confirm the foundation's princely character. Initially, the sculpture was probably a decoration of St Otto's Church, built in 1346 and demolished in the 16th century due to the expansion of the ducal residence. Until 1934 the sculpture was built into the so-called bell tower, on the side of the mint courtyard. Then it was replaced by a copy, and the original was put on display in the Pomeranian Museum in Szczecin. The symbolism of the sculpture is linked to the commemoration of the work of the Christianisation of Pomerania. The seated couple depicted on the console above the coat of arms with a griffin is probably Warcisław I and his wife Heila, who came from Saxony, actively supported Bishop Otto in his mission and played an essential role in organising the Church in Christianised Pomerania.

Kinga Krasnodębska