Isfried, a canon of the Abbey of Cappenberg and from 1159 the first provost
of Jerichow and builder of its Romanesque abbey church, became bishop of Ratzeburg
in 1178 and thus the successor of St. Evermode. In this position he gained merit
for the building of the cathedral and setting up parishes and further he fostered
the Christianization of the lands of the Wends. Being himself of a strong penitential
mindset, he showed himself to be a gentle judge toward the Wends who revolted
and sought to convince them through his preaching. In 1190 he visited the Abbey
of Floreffe near Namur, which had been destroyed by fire. He succeeded in persuading
the confreres to return after they had been scattered in all directions for
a year and a half; he restored the monastery and consecrated seven altars on
one day. Likewise in 1190 he blessed the Romanesque church of Postel and in
1194 that of Rolduc. In the conflict between the imperial Staufer Party and
the papally minded Welf Party, in spite of threats, he sided with the defeated
Henry of Saxony and Bavaria to whom he had previously sworn allegiance. Against
the intrigues of Emperor Frederick and his vassal Bernard of Anhalt, he defended
the rights of his people. Isfried died at almost 90 years of age on June 15,
1204.
Relics: none available
Approbation of cult: March 20/April 12, 1728 by Benedict XIII.
Representation: as a canon with a glass of wine and a book, as a bishop, healing
the eyes of a youth, standing on a figure on the ground.