Sankt Wigberti Priory
The Sankt Wigberti priory is an ecumenical Benedictine monastery in the form of a priory that has been built in Werningshausen (Thuringia) since the 1970s . The community lives according to the Benedictine rule .
history
The monastery, which was founded within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thuringia , bears the name of St. Wigbert like the church . The community includes Protestant and Roman Catholic men. Orthodox brothers also live there at times. The hourly prayer is said four times a day . In 1987 the rule and the order were approved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thuringia as the first Benedictine monastery in Germany after the Reformation.
The prior of the monastery and former Lutheran local pastor is Franz Schwarz, who comes from East Prussia. He became a pastor in the second education course after doing a craft profession. He selected Werningshausen from three pastoral positions offered to him, as the church and the rectory made the most desolate impression on him here. In addition to his spiritual duties, Schwarz is also artistically active.
In the period from May to October 2009, Pastor Schwarz was on leave of absence from his functions as pastor within the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM) , because it was to be examined whether his episcopal ordination of the high church apostolate Sankt Ansgar against the order of the Violate church. The proceedings were initiated by the regional bishop Christoph Kähler , who was three days before leaving office at the time.
The prior's leave of absence triggered unexpected press coverage and protests from members of the parishes and friends of the monastery. In discussions with the church leadership of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, misunderstandings were cleared up and the conflict was amicably settled. There were also talks about the theological processing of the facts.
As a result, according to the decision of the Disciplinary Chamber for the area of the former Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thuringia on October 13, 2009, the leave of absence was declared legally ineffective and then revoked. Prior Schwarz has been a retired pastor since 2010, but continues to look after the Werningshausen parish.
Because high church ordinations are usually carried out without the knowledge of the leadership of the Protestant regional churches, they are seldom observed or confirmed. In the Schwarz case, however, on March 18, 2010 an agreement was reached between him and the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, represented by the regional bishop Ilse Junkermann , in which Schwarz was allowed to call himself "Apostolic Head" in order to avoid confusion with the Office and the person of the state bishop or regional bishops. For the first time, a German Protestant regional church has expressly recognized the legitimacy of an apostolic leader in a high church brotherhood. The episcopal ordination of Father Franz took place in apostolic succession.
History of the village church
The village church of St. Wigbert (nave from 1773–1776, steeple from 1841), without a pastor since 1967 and abandoned to decay, was rebuilt by the monks from 1973, consecrated again in 1974 and serves as a parish and monastery church. In the churchyard, which is no longer used as a cemetery, there is also a Lady Chapel from 1984 and historical tombstones. The monastery buildings with a small oratory have been built in sections since 1989. The historic rectory - in a desolate condition - had already been renovated by the brothers in the 1970s. In 1992 the first phase of construction of the monastery was inaugurated with a strong participation of the population. In 2000 the second construction phase was consecrated. Soviet soldiers from the helicopter base in Haßleben also prayed in the Marienkapelle, but after a while they were betrayed to the state security, were no longer allowed to leave the barracks and their whereabouts were unknown. Such importance was attached to this event, as well as to the ecumenical endeavors of the brothers, that the monastery also received a small onion dome reminiscent of an Orthodox dome. In 2001, the six-part bell for the church was completed. It is considered the "most beautiful bell in Thuringia".
Quotes
“The church suffered a great deal of damage between 1967 and 1973 when the pastorate was vacant. Many historical documents were destroyed, the church and the rectory made a miserable and deserted sight. That changed in 1973 when the renovation of the church began when the first three brothers moved into the rectory. […] Werningshausen has undoubtedly gained in attraction through the re-establishment of the monastery. It was a rocky and arduous road, because here the church and the rectory in 1973 were closer to demolition than to rebuilding. "
In 27 years the brothers also took part in the reconstruction of 29 other churches, most of which were in a desolate condition.
See also
literature
- Franz Schwarz: The St. Wigberti Monastery in Werningshausen . In: Heimat Thüringen 14, 2007, 2, ISSN 0946-4697 , pp. 55–56.
- Priory St. Wigberti Werningshausen: For love of the church: 40 years - a common path . Leaflet 2010
Web links
- http://www.wigberti.de/
- You Tube: St. Wigberti Monastery - Ora et labora
- St. Wigberti's weblog
- Apostolate of the High Church of St. Ansgar
Individual evidence
- ↑ Press release of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany from June 16, 2009: EKM prohibits pastor von Werningshausen from serving as a pastor: Prior Schwarz has been “ordained” as “bishop” of an apostolate
- ^ Agreement between the EKM and Prior Schwarz of March 18, 2010
- ↑ Werningshausen 802 to 2002. Festschrift for the 1200th anniversary in 2002 . Published by Werningshausen municipal administration, 2002
Coordinates: 51 ° 8 ′ 29.2 ″ N , 11 ° 0 ′ 5.9 ″ E