Gößweinstein basilica

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Coordinates: 49 ° 46 ′ 11.9 "  N , 11 ° 20 ′ 13.9"  E

The Gößweinstein basilica is a minor basilica in the municipality of Gößweinstein . The basilica is the second largest pilgrimage site in the Archdiocese of Bamberg and at the same time the largest Trinity pilgrimage site in Germany. Every year around 140 permanent pilgrimage groups make the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein. Gößweinstein is considered the spiritual and ecclesiastical center of Franconian Switzerland .

Gößweinstein basilica

history

The facade of the Gößweinstein basilica
Gößweinstein Basilica seen from the south

Early history

In 1071 a chapel is said to have stood on the square of the basilica. In 1240, Konrad I from Schluesselberg and his wife Kunigunde converted the chapel into a spacious church , which was consecrated in honor of the Most Holy Trinity . The earliest mention of a church in Gozwinstein is in 1308 in Gottfried von Schlüsselberg's will . The Schlüsselberger family is seen as the founder of the first church; she also donated the Cistercian convent in Schlüsselau , which is also consecrated to the Holy Trinity.

In 1461 Gößweinstein became self-employed. It was previously incorporated into the Hollfeld Archdeaconate . Funding from noble families, such as from Groß zu Trockau, can be identified early on . The first indulgences were given to the church in 1511. Among the days provided with indulgences, the later main pilgrimage day Trinity , the Sunday after Pentecost , was not yet .

Building history of today's basilica

The medieval church was soon no longer able to cope with the onslaught of pilgrims. It was expanded by about three meters in 1593 and 1594; this extension was not sufficient. “In the church there seemed to have been such a crush that around 1624 it was reported that the pilgrims had knocked over the baptismal font and in 1719 that the clergy had to shrink back when distributing communion in front of the mass of believers 'because of the crampedness of the altars' . “To counteract the lack of space, the Marienkapelle was built in 1630, next to it an open wooden chapel. Confessionals and a sermon chair also had to be set up outdoors.

A new building appeared to be urgently needed; In 1683 there were hopeful signals from the Bishop of Bamberg, which suggested that it could begin shortly. In the same year Margaretha Gerstackerin from Allersdorf donated "20 florins for church building". Construction began after long negotiations; the foundation stone was laid on June 3, 1730 . In the previous decades, the Gößweinstein pastors had repeatedly asked Bamberg for permission to start construction. It was especially thanks to Pastor Dippold's persistence that the construction was not delayed any further. In a letter, Dippold asked Bamberg Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn , who was eager to build, “The prince may, in addition to his worldly magnificent buildings, also have a magnificent temple in honor of St. Build the Trinity. ”There were plans from various master builders, including one of the court builder Leonhard Dientzenhofer from 1715, who envisaged a central dome building with three towers and nine chapels, based on the Trinity patronage. This plan was rejected by the authorities as too expensive.

After the death of Lothar Franz von Schönborn in 1729 and the election of his nephew Friedrich Carl von Schönborn , the order was given to the famous Balthasar Neumann (1687–1753), whose plan was also carried out. At first the work was carried out under his direction, later under the direction of Johann Jakob Michael Küchel , who had been Neumann's employee in the prince-bishop's building department in the Bamberg monastery since 1735. When the church was consecrated in 1739, which took place in the presence of the prince-bishop , construction was far from over. Even the high altar and pulpit were not yet finished, the other altars had not even begun.

The work on the equipment dragged on until after 1769 (the construction protocols of Pastor Adam Peter Vogl end in this year ). The devastating fire of 1746, which severely damaged the church, the rectory, the Kirchnerhaus, the school and around 60 town houses, was a major setback - in terms of time and money. Because of the necessary repairs, the church furnishings had to be put back. The repair of the fire damage cost the Gößweinstein parish about 12,000  guilders (florins) - not including the parish, church and school buildings. The construction costs before the fire had been over 70,300 florins. The financing posed a big problem for the church, which had previously had a large fortune. Pastor Vogl complained in 1748 that the church “didn't have 30 fl in cash at the time, and I learn that it is bad to build where there is no money. "

additional

In 1948 the church was opened by Pope Pius XII. raised to the minor basilica. From 1999 to 2005 the baroque interior was renovated. The Gößweinstein basilica has been on a marked Way of St. James since 2009 . The basilica is listed as a Bavarian monument in the list of architectural monuments in Gößweinstein under the file number D-4-74-129-2.

Miraculous image

description

The group of figures carved from linden wood, which probably dates from around 1510, was originally in the pilgrimage church in Hüll near Betzenstein . There the carving served as a devotional image and was sold after the introduction of Protestantism . However, the Hüller Madonna of Mercy was retained because the pilgrimage was very profitable even after the Reformation . The group of figures shows the coronation of Mary by the Trinity. The three figures of Mary, God the Father and Son are pushed together seamlessly, which was revealed during their renovation in 1960 by the Office for the Preservation of Monuments . The Holy Spirit dove was only added around 1600.

Legend

The image of grace is the destination of countless pilgrims from near and far

The legend that revolves around the image of grace is a legend of wandering images that should particularly emphasize the sanctity of the place of grace. When the picture was removed from the town of Hüll near Betzenstein, about 15 km away, during the Reformation , it is said - according to legend - to have been repeatedly hidden from fanatical iconoclasts. So it came over several stages on winding paths to Gößweinstein. From there it should have been brought to Bamberg , but the team could not be moved even with four harnessed oxen, which was interpreted as a sign that the miraculous image should be venerated in Gößweinstein. What is striking about this legend is that it was intended to emphasize the chosen place of grace by God and also how it addresses the relationship between Protestants and Catholics. Both the “inability to get away” and the miraculous rescue of the cult object from unbelievers and the wonderful, apparently impossible arrival of the image at the place of grace are frequent topoi in the legends of pilgrimages.

Pilgrimage

The beginnings of the pilgrimage in Gößweinstein are in the dark, as all documents were lost in the Thirty Years War . In addition, there was no historically datable event in Gößweinstein, such as in Vierzehnheiligen , which led to the beginning of the pilgrimage. Pastor Ludovici wrote in 1684 that 400-year-old invoices testify to the long tradition of pilgrimages to Gößweinstein, but according to Helldorfer this can only be a reading error: the foundation that Ludovici intended could not have been made in 1305, but only in 1505.

First evidence of material and monetary sacrifices as well as groups of pilgrims have been received from the late 16th century.

In 1662 there were 27 pilgrimage groups, in 1765 a total of 42. A special feature was the so-called Franconian procession , a major pilgrimage of several communities from Lower Franconia that has been taking place since the 1740s and up to 4000 pilgrims joined.

The main catchment area was the dioceses of Bamberg and Würzburg , the Obermaing area and the Upper Palatinate. But pilgrims also moved to Gößweinstein from more distant areas, e.g. B. from Bohemia, Vienna and Prussia.

Gößweinstein is the largest Trinity pilgrimage site in Germany. Around 140 pilgrimage groups come to Gößweinstein every year. The catchment area of ​​the pilgrims stretches in the western area to Großlangheim , in the east to the Upper Palatinate and in north-south direction from the Bad Kissingen - Coburg - Kronach line to the area south of Nuremberg to Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate .

Development of pilgrimage in the 17th and 18th centuries

Pilgrimage souvenirs, around 1730

The two main days of pilgrimage can be seen from the numbers of communion recipients: Trinity Sunday (the octave day of Pentecost ) and the festival at the end of September. Trinity (Trinity Festival) in particular was an important day for the Gößweinstein pilgrimage. The proportion of communicants made up to 30% of the annual communion recipients on this day. On these two days several thousand communion recipients came to Gößweinstein, with a significant increase in the numbers from 1699 onwards.

There was also an increase in money and animal foundations from the turn of the century. Most of the foundations existed in the 1740s, which is probably due to the fire in Gößweinstein. After the house of God was destroyed, the faithful made more donations in order to be able to participate in the reconstruction. The number of anniversary foundations rose from the late 17th century onwards.

The sources clearly show that after growing and flourishing in the late 17th century, the pilgrimage was at its height in the 18th century. The upward trend was only stopped by the Enlightenment and especially by the transition of the Prince Diocese of Bamberg to the Kingdom of Bavaria .

The brotherhoods

In Gößweinstein there were two brotherhoods , the Corpus Christi Brotherhood, founded in 1653 by Pastor Johann Georg Ringer, and the Trinity Brotherhood founded in 1744 by Pastor Adam Peter Vogl . While the first as a brotherhood of the parish had rather few members, almost all of whom belonged to the parish, the second was a classic pilgrimage brotherhood . In just 25 years it had almost 39,000 members, whose origins coincide with the catchment area of ​​the pilgrimage.

The indulgences that the members could acquire were essential for the pilgrimage-promoting effect of the Trinity Brotherhood. The drain was obtained z. B. ( Trinity , Kirchweih , Mariä Visitation , Michael ), when one said certain prayers, confessed and communicated in Gößweinstein.

particularities

Gößweinstein's holdings of over a hundred life-size wax figures (diapers, children and adults) are remarkable. It documents a special kind of votive tradition that has been handed down in Franconia since the second half of the 19th century and which came to a standstill in the middle of the 20th century.

Pilgrimage museum and pilgrimage treasure

Rudolf Schiestl († 1931), pilgrimage to Gößweinstein

In September 2008 the newly designed pilgrimage museum was inaugurated. It is the first of its kind in the Archdiocese of Bamberg . The museum with approx. 275 m 2 of exhibition space is on three floors. The conceptual arc spans from the general to the specific, from the multi-religious phenomenon of pilgrims to the Trinity pilgrimage in Gößweinstein. There are various special exhibitions throughout the year.

Various religious offerings bear testimony to human fate and experience of God. A larger area is dedicated to them, including the impressive wax votive figures. Relics and indulgences, rosaries and ways of the cross are under the motto of salvation for pilgrimage motivations and actions accompanying pilgrimage.

Further equipment

High altar of the Gößweinstein basilica

The high altar with the miraculous image depicting the coronation of Mary is the heart of the pilgrimage basilica. It is considered a special masterpiece of baroque altar architecture. The high altar, the pulpit and the front side altars were completed between 1740 and 1743. This interior design was carried out under the direction of Johann Michael Küchel. The high altar has a three-storey pyramid-shaped geometry, which, with its figures and ornaments, results in three interlocking triangles that indicate the Holy Trinity, the patronage of the church. In addition to the high altar, the Gößweinstein basilica has eight side altars: Marien Altar, Cross Altar, Josephaltar, Anna Altar, Kunigunden Altar, Johann von Nepomuk Altar, Virgin Altar and Sebastian Altar.

organ

View of the basilica organ
brochure

In 1988 the organ building company Mathis (Näfels, Switzerland) built a new organ into the existing historical baroque case from 1754. The instrument has a total of 43 registers (3248 pipes) on three manuals and a pedal . In the left part of the case there is the main work in front , behind it the swell with romantic voices . The right part of the housing houses the pedal. The baroque upper structure is located between the two mighty pipe towers. The playing and stop actions are mechanical. The predecessor instrument with 42 registers could be saved and is ready to play in the organ museum at Schloss Valley . Currently (August 2015) Georg Schäffner is the responsible regional cantor .

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
1. Bourdon 16 ′
2. Principal 8th'
3. Hollow flute 8th'
4th Dumped 8th'
5. Octave 4 ′
6th Pointed flute 4 ′
7th Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
8th. Octave 2 ′
9. Mixture III-IV 2 ′
10. Cymbel II-III 1'
11. Cornet V 8th'
12. Trumpet 8th'
13. Trumpet 16 ′
II upper structure C – g 3
14th Dumped 8th'
15th Praestant 4 ′
16. Reed flute 4 ′
17th Octave 2 ′
18th Larigott 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
19th Sesquialter II 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
10. Sharp IV 1'
21st Cromorne 8th'
22nd Vox humana 8th'
Tremulant
III Swell C – g 3
23. Tube bare 8th'
24. Viol 8th'
25th Vox coelestis 8th'
26th Fugara 4 ′
27. Transverse flute 4 ′
28. Nasat 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
29 Night horn 2 ′
30th third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
31. Mixture IV 2 ′
32. Dulcian 16 ′
33. Hautbois-Basson 8th'
34. Clairon 4 ′
Tremulant
Pedal C – f 1
35. Principal 16 ′
36. Sub-bass 16 ′
37. Fifth 10 2 ⁄ 3  ′
38. Octave 8th'
39. Covered flute 8th'
40. Choral bass 4 ′
41. Mixture IV 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
42. trombone 16 ′
43. Trumpet 8th'
  • Coupling : II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, III / P
  • Playing aids : Pleno step for the principal parts of HW and PED, introductory steps for trumpet 8 '(HW), trombone 16' and trumpet 8 '(PED).

Bells

The peal of the basilica consists of seven bells :

No. Surname Casting year Caster Weight Chime Belfry
1 Trinity 1998 Albert Bachert ( Heilbronn ) 4020 kg a 0 North tower
2 Maria 1998 Albert Bachert ( Heilbronn ) 2601 kg c 1 North tower
3 nameless 1747 Johann Ignatius Höhn ( Bamberg ) 1549 kg d 1 South tower
4th nameless 1747 Johann Ignatius Höhn ( Bamberg ) 915 kg e 1 South tower
5 Heinrich Kunigund 1998 Albert Bachert ( Heilbronn ) 1053 kg g 1 South tower
6th Saint Francis 1998 Albert Bachert ( Heilbronn ) 968 kg a 1 South tower
7th Saint Joseph 1998 Albert Bachert ( Heilbronn ) 862 kg h 1 South tower

literature

  • Peter Poscharsky: The churches of Franconian Switzerland . 4th improved edition. Verlag Palm and Enke, Erlangen 2001, ISBN 3-7896-0099-7 , pp. 184-190.

Web links

Commons : Basilika Gößweinstein  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bernhard Schemmel: The pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . In: Geschichte am Obermain , 17, 1989, pp. 105–125, here p. 114.
  2. ^ Walter Folger: Pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of Bamberg . Living tradition (= writings of the historical association, vol. 32), Bamberg 1994, p. 71.
  3. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 435.
  4. ^ Walter Folger: Pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of Bamberg . Living tradition (= writings of the historical association vol. 32), Bamberg 1994, p. 70
  5. ^ Bernhard Schemmel: The pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . In: Geschichte am Obermain , 17, 1989, pp. 105–125, here p. 115.
  6. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 167.
  7. ^ A b Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, p. 78.
  8. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 202 f.
  9. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 210.
  10. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 207
  11. ^ A b Alfred Schädler: The Gößweinstein pilgrimage church in Balthasar Neumann's work . In: Fränkisches Land 15 (1961).
  12. ^ Parish archive Gößweinstein: B61 and B62
  13. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, p. 81.
  14. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, p. 83.
  15. ↑ to finance the construction: Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the Bamberg Monastery: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, pp. 83–86.
  16. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 248.
  17. ^ Bernhard Schemmel: The pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . In: Geschichte am Obermain , 17, 1989, pp. 105–125, here p. 116
  18. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, 862 f.
  19. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 434
  20. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, p. 21.
  21. ↑ Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 443.
  22. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, p. 21 f., Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974, p. 443. Bernhard Schemmel: The pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . In: Geschichte am Obermain , 17, 1989, pp. 105–125, here p. 119.
  23. ^ Map from Ludwig Helldorfer: Gößweinstein. Castle, office, church, community . Gößweinstein 1974.
  24. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, pp. 27–32.
  25. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, pp. 63–75.
  26. ^ Ilona Mages: Baroque Catholicism in the bishopric of Bamberg: The example of the pilgrimage to Gößweinstein . Master's thesis at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2008, pp. 32–49.
  27. ↑ More information about the organ ( Memento of the original from October 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.pfarrgemeinde-goessweinstein.de