PETER JOSEPH ELVENICH. — Hermesian theologian, born in Embken (Rhenish Prussia) on 29 January 1796, died in Breslau on 16 June 1886. A disciple of Hermes at Bonn, he taught the latter’s errors from the chairs of Coblenz, Bonn, and Breslau. In 1837, perhaps still in good faith, he attempted to defend Hermes in Rome in order to obtain the revocation of the condemnation; but in vain, without however recanting. After the Vatican Council he adhered to the Old Catholics.
A fanatical supporter of his master, he devoted his entire output to illustrating his thought: Acta Hermesiana (Göttingen 1836–37); Acta Romana (Hanover 1838); Metamata theologica (Leipzig 1838); Acta anti-hermesiana (Regensburg 1839) — the last three in collaboration with Braun; Aktenstücke zur geheimen Gesch. des Hermesianismus (n.p. 1845); Pius IX, die Hermesianer und der Erzbischof V. Geissel (Breslau 1848).