Brigittenkloster Gdansk

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Brigittenkirche in the 19th century

The monastery of St. Brigitta was a double monastery of the Brigit Order in Gdansk from the 14th to the 19th century.

investment

Ground plan of the monastery in 1695

The monastery was on the Brigittenkirche , the monastery buildings were north of it on the river Radaune. The church is preserved.

history

In 1374, after her death , Birgitta of Sweden was laid out in Gdansk for two weeks, first in the Marienkirche, then in the small Maria Magdalenen chapel. She had been convicted from Rome and on her way to Sweden.

In 1392 Brigittinnen came to Danzig from the mother monastery Vadstena and settled at the chapel, where a community of penitents and beguines already lived. In 1394 they received permission from the Pope to found a monastery, which was opened in 1396. In 1400, a monks' convent was set up, which was separated from the nuns by a wall, as stipulated by the rules of the Birgit order. They were responsible for the liturgy, the pastoral care of the area and the support of the bishop.

The monastery received extensive donations and donations and owned several villages. In the first decades there were repeated clashes with the city, the neighboring Church of St. Katharinen and citizens because of property, rights and a lack of religious discipline. In 1426 a Brigitten monastery was founded in Lublin , and in 1458 another in Elbing.

In 1525/26 and 1577 the Brigitten monastery was stormed and looted, like other monasteries. In 1592/93 the Bishop of Włocławek ordered the transfer of the monastery with all its property to the Jesuit order. After vigorous protests by the Protestant city council and with the support of the mother monastery in Vadstena, the brigands regained full control of the complex in 1613/15.

At that time it was the only double monastery in Poland. The 40 to 60 conventuals came from Gdansk and the surrounding area and were of Polish and German origin.

After the transfer of the city of Danzig to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1793, the acceptance of new novices was prohibited. In 1817 the monastery was closed, but the inmates were allowed to stay there. In 1824 the first parts of the building were demolished, in 1828 the remaining four nuns were relocated and from 1849 to 1851 the entire cloister complex was demolished. A rectory and other buildings were built there. The last nun died in 1855.

In 1945 the Brigittenkirche was damaged. Since 1999 there has been an ecumenical center with a hotel and conference rooms in the parish buildings.

literature

  • Stefania Kamińska: Klasztory brygidek w Gdańsku, Elblągu i Lublinie [The Brigitte monasteries in Gdansk, Elblag and Lublin.] Gdańsk 1970.

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