ELVENICH, PETER JOSEPH. - Hermesian theologian, b. at Embken (Rhenish Prussia) on 29 Jan. 1796, d. at Breslavia on 16 June 1886. A disciple of Hermes at Bonn, he taught his errors from the chairs of Coblenza, Bonn, and Breslavia. In 1837, perhaps still in good faith, he attempted to defend him in Rome in order to obtain the revocation of the condemnation; but in vain, without however changing his mind. After the Vatican Council he adhered to the “Old Catholics.”
A fanatical supporter of his master, he devoted his entire output to expounding his thought: Acta Hermesiana, (Gettinga 1836-37); Acta Romana (Hannover 1838); Meletemata theologica (Lipsia 1838); Acta anti-hermesiana, (Ratisbona 1839), the last three publications in collaboration with Braun; Athenetische zur geheimen Gesch. des Hermesianismus (s. l. 1845); Pius IX, die Hermesianer und der Erzbischof V. Geissel (Breslavia 1848).