Free altar

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"Freialtar" in Westerstede by Norbert Marten and Christel Mandos-Feldmann

The Freialtar is located in Westerstede - Mansie , Ammerland , and is a work of art in public space that was designed and built by Norbert Marten and Christel Mandos-Feldmann . The work of art was initiated by Ingeborg Posega as part of the “Forgotten Places” project of the Ammerland eV art trail. In an ecumenical devotion, the work of art “Freialtar” was inaugurated on October 19, 2013 and given to the city of Westerstede, represented by Mayor Klaus Groß.

Location

The Freialtar is located on the former castle grounds Mansinger Burgplatz of the Knights von Mansinger, who were mentioned for the first time in 1226 and for the last time at the end of the 14th century.

The free altar with memorial steles reminds on the one hand of the history of the castle with the knights of Mansingen and on the other hand illuminates the way the inhabitants dealt with religion in the Middle Ages as a cultural development and as a cultural asset of the Ammerland. The site is a listed building .

Concept and execution

As can be seen from the state archives, various Knights von Mansingen, as ministerials of the Counts of Oldenburg , sealed a number of documents from 1226 to 1385 in which possessions were sold or given away. A document from July 4, 1339, which reported on the religious preservation of life of the people of that time and their concern for the salvation of their souls, was used for the conception. Afterwards, an altar was donated in the church of Apen in honor of St. Lawrence.

Another present gift was added as an aspect of the concept: When the Westersteder St. Petri Church was renovated, a historical sandstone altar plate was no longer used. In the year 2000 it was given to the initiator of the work of art "Freialtar", Ingeborg Posega, then chairwoman of the lecture association Westerstede, representative in the Ammerland eV art trail, for further use.

Both donations were conceptually linked by Norbert Marten and Christel Mandos-Feldmann. Religious and cultural values ​​from the history of the city of Westerstede should be preserved in a new context.

Altar plates and their foundations

The old sandstone altar plate of the St. Petri Church on the left side of the work of art is supported by a base, also made of sandstone, whose recesses form the supports of the new glass altar plate on the right. The foundations of the altar plates symbolize the cultural development from the past to the present and further to a possible future: Values ​​that were sustainable are transported into the future from the past and support the present, permeating it. Sandstone (quartz) is also given a different shape through further development, becoming transparent glass.

Mansinger's treasure

The glass plate, the altar plate of the present lies over the sandstone plate, the altar plate of the past. In between - at the central intersection - is modeled in bronze, protected and yet clearly visible, the Mansinger's hidden treasure, the measuring utensils: the plate for the bread, the goblet for the wine, the two candlesticks for the glow of the Lord's Supper. The frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper promised eternal salvation in the Middle Ages.

Remembering past, present and future values

The "stelae of remembrance" (stele translated from Greek means grave pillar) establish a further connection to Castle Mansingen through present memories of past events and point, founded in the depths, to heaven, to the longing for redemption of the knights of, who strive for their soulfulness Mansingen.

Ecumenical free altar

The concept was presented to the Christian churches before implementation and it was decided to use it for ecumenical worship services .

Art for everyone

In the art in public space by Norbert Marten and Christel Mandos-Feldmann, historical backgrounds represent a socio-political platform to keep cultural memories alive, to promote cultural education, to carry on new forms of communication through and with art. Therefore, the concept of the Westersted work of art "Freialtar" with steles of remembrance also included a presence of the Christian communities. You are invited to use the "Freialtar" as a Freialtar for your religious purposes, such as Hubertus Mass, weddings, youth services, etc. For the inauguration on October 19, 2013, a first ecumenical service was held on the old Burgplatz in Westerstede-Mansie with a large number of citizens.

A constant questioning of the Burgplatz and thus a questioning of religious values ​​and cultural developments in and around Westerstede was the desired goal of the concept of Norbert Marten and Christel Mandos-Feldmann for the "Freialtar".

Web links

Coordinates: 53 ° 14 ′ 26.7 "  N , 7 ° 54 ′ 34.9"  E