He was previously a Cistercian monk working as a priest in Turaida (1191–1202), the first abbot of Daugavgrīva monastery (1202–1211), and appointed Bishop of Estonia during 1211–1219 by Albert of Buxhoeveden, the Bishop of Riga.
A former Cistercian monk, he worked as a priest in Turaida from 1191 to 1202, later becoming the first abbot of Daugavgrīva monastery from 1202 to 1211. He was then appointed bishop of Estonia by Albert of Buxhoeveden, Bishop of Riga, from 1211 to 1219.