Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface (? - June 5, 754/755) was the most famous Christian missionar in Germany. He is also called the "apostle of the Germans".
Biography
Boniface, then Winfrid, was born in England. His year of birth is unknown. Boniface descended from a noble family and received a religious education. Later he went to the monastery of Exeter and Nursling, where he was ordained as priest. 716 Boniface he tried for first time a missionary journey in Frisia, Germany, that failed because of political disturbances. 718 Boniface again left Enland and travelled to Rome, where Pope Gregory II commissioned him to convert the Germans. He travelled through Bavaria, Thuringia and Hesse, where he spread Christian faith. His most famous action was the precipitation of an oak in Geismar, that was consecrated to the thunder-god Thor. The heathens, who saw this felling were surprised because they expected vengeance by Thor. Many of them were converted.[1]