Abraham Frankenberg German mystic and poet. Country: Germany

Biography of Abraham von Frankenberg

Abraham von Frankenberg was a German mystic and poet born in 1593 into an ancient noble family in Silesia (Oleśnica). He completed his studies at the Brieg Gymnasium and Leipzig University with the intention of becoming a lawyer. However, he abandoned this career path in 1617 due to the influence of mystical ideas. In 1622, he became acquainted with the works of Jakob Böhme, and the following year, he personally met this mystic, maintaining respect for him throughout his life.

In 1623, Abraham inherited the ancestral estate in Ludwigsdorf, but he handed it over to his brother Balthazar in exchange for the right to live in a few small rooms. He led a reclusive life, rarely leaving his residence. The only exceptions were in 1634, when he helped those suffering from the plague, and in 1640, when he challenged the preaching of the Lutheran preacher Georg Sajdler, which he perceived as intolerant. As the Thirty Years' War advanced towards Silesia, Abraham lived in Danzig from 1641 to 1649, sharing an apartment with the astronomer Johann Hevelius, who introduced him to the Copernican system. He spent the winter of 1642-1643 in the Netherlands. In 1649, Abraham returned home to Ludwigsdorf and met Daniel Czepko, dedicating two poems to him. During this time, he also became acquainted with and influenced Angelus Silesius.

Abraham von Frankenberg was buried in Oleśnica, and his tombstone is still covered with undeciphered mystical symbols. His worldview was influenced by Jakob Böhme, as well as Kabbalah, Paracelsian alchemy, medieval mysticism, spiritual movements of the Reformation era, Spanish quietism, Lutheran mysticism, and pansophism.

His most famous work is "Raphael," published posthumously in Amsterdam in 1676. Translated from Hebrew, "Raphael" means "God Heals." The Archangel Raphael has traditionally been associated with healing and restoration. The work is supposedly structured as a medical treatise but incorporates Paracelsian alchemy, Kabbalah, and some ideas of Joachim of Fiore. The mystic explores the concept of the syzygy of the macrocosm and microcosm, discussing how illnesses can be cured through three methods: medicine (conventional medicine), spiritual efforts, and magic.