Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Graz)

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Herz-Jesu-Kirche Graz
Herz-Jesu-Kirche Graz, north-west side

The Herz-Jesu-Kirche or parish church Graz-Herz Jesu is a Roman Catholic church built in the neo-Gothic brick style in the St. Leonhard district of Graz . The building, built between 1881 and 1887, has the third tallest church tower in Austria and is one of the most important buildings of historicism in Styria .

Building history

In 1875, Prince-Bishop Johann Baptist Zwerger , who came from South Tyrol and a great admirer of the Sacred Heart , called for the construction of a Sacred Heart Church for Graz for the first time. The church was to become a parish center for the then rapidly growing Wilhelminian-style district in today's St. Leonhard district and at the same time represent an important monument to the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

After long discussions about the architectural style (the construction of a church in the style of the Viennese Votive Church had to be discarded for reasons of cost), Georg von Hauberrisser , originally from Graz , architect of the Munich town hall , finally started building the church in the neo-Gothic brick style in the style of the north German churches commissioned in the style of brick Gothic . The foundation stone was laid in 1881, the topping-out ceremony was celebrated in 1885 and the high tower was completed in 1887. The church was consecrated on June 5, 1891, but was not elevated to a parish church until October 10, 1902. A comprehensive exterior restoration was carried out in 2004 and 2005 (see web links).

Outside

The church and the rectory built in the same style are surrounded by a park and visibly influenced by the ideals of Romanticism . In order to achieve a monumental appearance in spite of the low-lying building site, the church was built on two floors in the form of a lower church, which opens into arcades to the park, and an upper church above. The south-west tower of the church, which is not exactly east, is the third highest church tower in Austria at 109.6 m, after the towers of St. Stephen 's Cathedral in Vienna and the Cathedral of the Conception of Mary in Linz.

Upper Church

In order to offer as many people as possible a clear view of the chancel, the church was built as a facing church with side chapels, column-free interior and pillars integrated into the nave walls. The austere appearance of the large, open interior is broken up by colored windows and wall frescoes. The uniform overall impression prevailing inside is due to the fact that Hauberrisser designed every little detail himself and the original equipment has been completely retained.

Altar zone

The new altar designed by Gustav Troger
View through the nave to the front

The base of a large pointed arch at the transition to the presbytery is formed by a wide step system . The altar zone is emphasized by a higher floor level than in the ship and by a slightly different choice of materials.

In preparation for the centenary of the church in 1991, the altar area of ​​the church was redesigned. In accordance with the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council , in order to be able to keep the original high altar unchanged, a smaller additional altar was built on a podium designed by the architect Heinrich Tritthart in front of it . This so-called folk altar was made according to a design by the Styrian artist Gustav Troger , as was a new ambo and glass candlesticks.

The original high altar, consecrated to the heart of Jesus, is designed as a canopy altar . In the front gable of the altar canopy a heart can be seen wrapped in a crown of thorns, and an openwork roof top conceals the statue of the risen Savior, pointing to his open heart.

Side chapels

Side chapels on the south-east wall

On both sides of the main aisle there are small chapels with reredos and wall paintings.

Left Right
Joseph Chapel Lady Chapel
Franz Xaver Chapel Aloisius Chapel
Barbara Chapel Nepomuk Chapel
Anna Chapel Anthony's Chapel
Kreuzkapelle Baptistery

Mural

At the request of the architect Hauberrisser, the Viennese genre and history painter Karl Karger was commissioned to produce the wall paintings. Karger then created cardboard boxes, from which his students Johann Lukesch and Max Goldfeld executed the paintings from 1886–1906. The 12 murals on the sides of the main nave and on the northern presbytery wall form a closed cycle that begins on the right with the adoration of Christ by shepherds and kings and ends with the crucifixion of Christ. An explanatory Bible quote is attached to each picture.

Way of the Cross

The 14 pictures of the Stations of the Cross, painted on copper plates on the outer walls of the side chapels, were designed by the Viennese painter Josef Kastner .

pulpit

The octagonal pulpit rests on a stronger central column and seven slender columns, which also support the stairs. In the fields of the pulpit parapet, relief busts of the four evangelists can be seen, at the six corners of the sound cover are angels with a banner ( Discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde - 'Learn from me, because I am meek and humble of heart' ' , Mt 11:29), and on the underside of the sound cover the dove is depicted as a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

window

The glass windows of the Herz-Jesu-Kirche are one of the few completely preserved ensembles of neo-Gothic glass art in Austria. From the windows designed according to Hauberrisser's designs, the figural art glazing was created in the Neuhauser glass painting facility in Innsbruck, the simpler glazing partly in Graz. On the figural windows, essential contents of Christian doctrine are shown, such as the Trinity as well as the saints and the risen Christ.

organ

View through the nave to the rear; Organ prospectus

The organ was built from 1889 to 1891 by the Walcker organ building company. The instrument initially had 36 stops on two manuals and a pedal with pneumatic action . In 1941, Walcker added a third manual ( Rückpositiv ) to the instrument and switched the pneumatic action to electro-pneumatic operation. In 1991 the instrument was completely refurbished by the builder company. Today it has 55 stops on three manuals and a pedal. In 2014, on the initiative of the organ spring, which takes place annually at the organ, a general renovation was carried out by the Rieger company .

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
1. Principal 16 '
2. Principal 8th'
3. octave 8th'
4th Gemshorn 8th'
5. Bourdon 8th'
6th Salicional 8th'
7th Quintatön 8th'
8th. octave 8th'
9. Gemshorn 4 '
10. Reed flute 4 '
11. Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
12. Principal 2 '
13. Mixture Major VI
14th Mixture Minor IV
15th Trumpet 8th'
16. Clairon 4 '
II Rückpositiv C – g 3
17th Coarse 8th'
18th Ital. Principal 4 '
19th Night horn 4 '
20th Principal 2 '
21st Sesquialter II 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
22nd Larigot 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
23. Sharp V
24. Krummhorn 8th'
Tremulant
III Swell C – g 3
25th Quintatön 16 '
26th Flute Principal 8th'
27. Concert flute 8th'
28. Aeoline 8th'
29 Voix Celeste 8th'
30th Night horn 8th'
31. octave 4 '
32. Transverse flute 4 '
33. recorder 4 '
34. Schwiegel 2 '
35. third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
36. Fifth 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
37. Sif flute 1'
38. Cymbel III
39. Mixture V
40. Dulcian 16 '
41. Trumpet 8th'
42. Schalmey 4 '
Tremulant
Pedals C – f 1
43. Pedestal 32 '
44. Principal 16 '
45. Revelation 16 '
46. Sub-bass 16 '
47. Dumped 16 '
48. Octave bass 8th'
49. Flute bass 8th'
50. Chorale bass 4 '
51. Mixture V
52. Trombone bass 16 '
53. Dulcian bass 16 '
54. Bass trumpet 8th'
55. oboe 4 '
  • Coupling : II / I, III / I (also as sub and super octave coupling), III / II, III / III (sub and super octave coupling), I / P, II / P, III / P (also as super octave coupling)
Max Reger: Fantasy on the chorale "How beautifully shines the morning star" Gunther Rost (Live in the Herz-Jesu-Kirche 2012)

Bells

In the First World War all bronze bells were dismantled as war material, new ones again in the Second World War. Only the smallest remained. As a result, steel bells were installed, for reasons of cost and because it is to be expected that they will be more safely preserved. Only the largest (about 3000 kg) is currently (2009) rung at 7, 12 and 7 p.m. (electric motor). The small bronze bell serves as a death bell.

Lower church

Altar and vault of the lower church

The lower church is dedicated to the poor souls . This three-aisled complex can be reached via a wide staircase and creates a strong impression due to the natural brick structure of the pillars. Christ, Mary and John the Baptist can be seen on three figural end windows. The original altar of the lower church is located directly under the high altar of the upper church and is a simple altarpiece with relief depictions of the "poor souls". A new altar zone was also built in the lower church in order to celebrate services here in winter. The redesign of the altar zone was based on plans by the architect Heinrich Tritthart.

Grave of Bishop Zwerger
The main work of the sculptor Hans Brandstetter , who created most of the sculptural furnishings of the church, is the grave monument for Prince-Bishop Zwerger. The monument made of white Carrara marble , designed in the form of a medieval tumba , shows a life-size portrait relief of the bishop, who was buried here in the lower church after his death in 1893.

Dimensions

Herz-Jesu-Kirche in the evening sun
Upper Church Ship width 13 m
  Ship length 43.5 m
  overall length 62 m
  Crown height 24 m
Lower church width 13 m
  length 47 m
  Crown height 6 m
Tower height   109.6 m

literature

  • Friedrich Bouvier : The Sacred Heart Church in Graz. Kirchenführer, Graz 1983 (out of print).
  • Gertrude Celedin, Friedrich Bouvier, Maximilian Liebmann (eds.): Church, artists and conflicts. 100 years of the Herz-Jesu-Kirche Graz. Verlag Styria, Graz et al. 1991, ISBN 3-222-12018-8 .
  • Alois Kölbl, Wiltraud Resch: Paths to God. The churches and synagogue of Graz. 2nd, expanded and supplemented edition. Styria, Graz 2004, ISBN 3-222-13105-8 , pp. 123-125.

Web links

Commons : Herz-Jesu-Kirche  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ More information about the organ (PDF; 494 kB) p. 19.
  2. ^ Organ Spring Styria. In: www.orgelfruehling.at. Retrieved April 25, 2017 .

Coordinates: 47 ° 4 ′ 10.6 ″  N , 15 ° 27 ′ 20.6 ″  E