Johann Olearius

OLEARIUS, Johann. b. Halle, 17 September 1611; d. Weissenfels, 14 May 1684. Born the son of a well-known Lutheran superintendent, he was educated at the Latin school and at the University of Wittenberg (MA 1627, adjunct of the Faculty of Philosophy, 1635). In 1637 he became Licentiate and Superintendent at Querfurt (south-west of Halle); in 1643 he became ‘Hofprediger’ (court preacher) and ‘Beichtvater’ (private chaplain) to the Duke August von Sachsen-Weissenfels at Halle. In the same year he became a Doctor of Theology at Wittenberg, thenceforth signing his hymns ‘D.[Doktor] J.O.’ He was appointed senior priest and general superintendent throughout Weissenfels, Saxony, a position that he...