Lohelius, Johann (Lochel)

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LOHELIUS, JOHANN (LOCHEL)

Archbishop of Prague; b. Ohře (Eger), Bohemia, 1549; d. Prague, Nov. 2, 1622. He was educated at the abbey school of Tepl, received the Norbertine habit in 1573, and was ordained in 1576. Much of Lochel's early career was spent restoring the historic Premonstratensian Abbey of Strahov, from 1578 as prior, from 1586 as abbot. He colonized it with monks from other monasteries and rebuilt the church. In 1604 he was appointed auxiliary to Archbishop von Lamberg of Prague, succeeding him in the post in 1612. Lochel showed himself a resolute opponent of Calvinist encroachment, and was driven from his see at the time of the Defenestration (1618). With the imperial victory over the Protestant forces at White Mountain, Lochel was able to return to Prague in 1621. He died the following year.

Bibliography: j. seibt, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (Freiburg 195765) 6:1129. k. pichert, Analecta Praemonstratensia 3 (1927): 125140, 264283, 40422.

[b. l. marthaler]