EHRHARD, ALBERT. - Historian and hagiographer, b. March 14, 1862, at Beritzheim in Alsace, d. Sept. 23, 1940, at Bonn. After theological studies at the Seminary of Strasbourg, he earned a doctorate in theology at Würzburg (1888) and pursued further studies in Rome (1888-1889). He then had a rapid academic career: he was professor at the Seminary of Strasbourg (1889-1892), and at the Universities of Würzburg (1892-1898), Vienna (1898-1902), Freiburg im Br. (1902-1903), Strasbourg (1903-1918), and Bonn (1920-1927). This brilliant ascent corresponds to his notable publications, which almost all concern Christian antiquity, especially patristics, Byzantine theological and hagiographical literature.
In the *Strassburger Theologische Studien* (I [1894], nos. 4-5), he reported on patristic studies published from 1880 to 1884, a work continued for the years 1884-1900 in *Die altchristliche Literatur* (Freiburg im Br. 1900). In the 2nd edition of Krumbacher, pp. 37-218 are his. Having been entrusted by A. Harnack with collecting the Greek *Acta Martyrum*, he devoted himself to manuscript research in Europe and the East, without being able to complete this preparatory work. At his death, he had published in *Texte und Untersuchungen* (50, Leipzig 1937, and 51, ibid. 1938): *Überlieferung und Bestand der hagiographischen und homiletischen Literatur der griechischen Kirche*. Three fascicles of the third volume had been printed. Alongside works of pure erudition, he published, for educated circles, various works of which the following may be mentioned: *Die Kirche der Märtyrer* (Munich 1932); under the general title *Die katholische Kirche durch die Zeiten und Völker* (2 vols.: *Urchristentum und Frühkatholizismus*, Bonn 1933, and *Die altchristliche Kirchen im Westen und im Osten*, ibid. 1937). These works, eminent for depth of doctrine, clarity of exposition, and refinement of method, are in effect a scholarly apology for the Catholic religion of the Church, but they also show how unfounded were the suspicions of which he was the object at the beginning of the century. Pius XI held him in high esteem.