St. Florian Monastery

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Southeast view of St. Florian Monastery
Basilica and monastery building
Eagle fountain and staircase

The St. Florian Monastery , one of the largest and best-known monasteries from the Baroque period in Austria, is located in the market town of St. Florian near Linz in Upper Austria . The Roman Catholic Collegiate Church of the Assumption of Mary is a parish church and a minor basilica . It belongs to the dean's office Enns-Lorch in the diocese of Linz . The collegiate basilica and the monastery as a whole are under monument protection .

A community of Augustinian Canons has existed here since 1071 , the current Congregation of Austrian Augustinian Canons . The magnificent, almost intact baroque buildings with the monastery basilica were built under the master builders Carlo Antonio Carlone , Jakob Prandtauer and Johann Gotthard Hayberger from 1686 to 1750.

history

The complex in front of the new baroque building. Georg Matthäus Vischer , 1674
500 Schilling - silver coin for the 300th anniversary in 1986

The origin of the St. Florian monastery is not proven by sources. A tradition from the 9th century, the Passio Floriani , tells of the martyrdom of the first Christian known by name in what is now Austria: Saint Florian . According to the Passio Floriani , Florian was buried after his death in 304 on the place where the St. Florian Monastery rises today. This suggests a tradition of veneration for St. Florian from the 4th century onwards at the site of today's monastery. The first written evidence of a monastery complex dates back to the Carolingian period in 819. In 1071 the Augustinian Canons were introduced as a reform community by Bishop Altmann von Passau in the St. Florian Monastery . Since then, they have performed monastic and pastoral tasks (the monastery looks after 33 incorporated parishes ).

In 1140/50 the giant Bible of St. Florian was created in the scriptorium of the monastery , a work of art of Romanesque book illumination.

In 1686 the new Baroque building of the monastery building began by Carlo Antonio Carlone , who worked here as a master builder until his death (1708). In his time the church and west wing with the impressive main facade were built. After Carlone's death in 1708, Jakob Prandtauer took over the construction site, who essentially continued it in the spirit of Carlone, but at the same time left his handwriting behind and from here received decisive suggestions for Melk Abbey . In his time, the south wing with the magnificent marble hall, the summer refectory as an annex on the east side of the monastery, the convent building and much more were built.

After Prandtauer's death in 1726, the Florian building foreman Jakob Steinhueber continued his plans. Another master builder, Gotthard Hayberger from Steyr, was only used to build the monastery library (1744). Approx. In 1750 the construction work on the monastery was finished. The St. Florian Monastery could essentially be realized according to the plans and represents a baroque unit.

From 1848 to 1855 Anton Bruckner worked as a monastery organist; he is buried directly under the Bruckner organ built by Franz Xaver Krisman .

In January 1941 the Gestapo confiscated and expropriated the monastery . The canons and their provost Vinzenz Hartl were expelled, but were able to continue their monastic life in Pulgarn Abbey near Steyregg . From 1942 the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft had its seat here under its general director Heinrich Glasmeier . After the end of the Second World War the canons were able to return to the monastery.

After Leopold Hager, Johannes Zauner (* 1913 Walding; † September 24, 1977 in St. Florian) and Wilhelm Neuwirth (1977–2005), Johannes Holzinger has been the 57th provost of St. Florian since 2005 .

List of provosts from 1382

  • Stephan Zainkgraben, officiated 1382–1407
  • Jodok I. Pernschlag, officiated 1407–1417
  • Kaspar I. Seisenecker, officiated 1417–1436
  • Lukas Fridensteiner von Maur, officiated 1436–1459, received pontifical rights from Pope Pius II (1458–1464) in 1458
  • Johann II. Stieger, officiated 1459–1467
  • Kaspar II Vorster, officiated 1467–1481
  • Peter II. Sieghartner, officiated 1481–1483
  • Leonhard Riesenschmied, officiated 1483–1508
  • Peter III Maurer, officiated 1508–1545, resigned
  • Florian Muth, officiated 1545–1553
  • Siegmund Pfaffenhofer, officiated from 1553–1572
  • Georg I. Freuter, officiated 1573–1598
  • Vitus (Veit) Widmann, officiated 1599–1612, died January 20, 1612
  • Leopold I. Zehetner, b. approx. 1581, officiated as provost 1612–1646, died September 30, 1646
  • Matthias Gotter, officiated as provost 1646–1666
  • David Fuhrmann, b. 1621 in Straubing, officiated 1667–1689, first Lateran abbot, died October 6, 1689 in Linz
  • Matthäus I. von Weißenberg, b. 1644 in Steyr, officiated as provost 1689–1700, died 1700 in St. Florian
  • Franz Klausius (Clausius) Kröll, officiated as provost 1700–1716
  • Johann III. Födermayr, officiated as provost 1716–1732
  • Johann Georg II. Wiesmayr, b. April 4, 1695, served as provost 1732–1755
  • Engelbert II. Hofmann, officiated as provost 1755–1766
  • Matthäus II. Gogl, officiated as provost 1766–1777
  • Leopold II. Trulley, served as provost 1777–1793
  • Michael I. Ziegler, b. February 22, 1744, officiated as provost 1793–1823, died May 5, 1823 in St. Florian
  • Michael II. Arneth, b. January 9, 1771, officiated as provost 1823–1854, died March 24, 1859 in St. Florian
  • Friedrich (Theophil) Mayer, b. October 4, 1793 in Stockheim, officiated as provost 1854–1858, died December 29, 1858 in Rome
  • Jodok II. Stülz, b. February 23, 1799 in Bezau, served as provost 1859–1872
  • Ferdinand Moser, b. November 8, 1827 in Gmunden, officiated as provost 1872–1901, died October 29, 1901 in St. Florian
  • Josef Sailer, b. September 9, 1839, officiated as provost 1901–1920, Abbot General of the Austrian Augustinian Canons Congregation 1907–1920, died January 29, 1920 in St. Florian
  • Vinzenz Hartl, b. December 6, 1872 in Herzogsdorf, served as provost 1920–1944, died April 10, 1944 in Pulgarn
  • Leopold Hager, b. November 1, 1889 in St. Gotthard, officiated as provost 1944–1968, resigned 1968, died February 24, 1972
  • Johannes Zauner, b. 1913 in Walding, died September 24, 1977, served as provost 1968–1977
  • Wilhelm Neuwirth , b. March 12, 1941, officiated as provost 1977–2005, from 1987–2002 Abbot General of the Austrian Augustinian Canons Congregation, retired
  • Johann Holzinger, b. April 12, 1951, has served as provost since 2005

Tour in the pen

Pen library

Pen library

The library contains around 150,000 volumes. A true baroque jewel is the main hall of the abbey library, which shows numerous wonderful carpentry work and a famous fresco by Bartolomeo Altomonte . The library holds many valuable medieval manuscripts and early prints, many of which were properly restored by Eleonore Klee after the Second World War . The Florian Psalter belonged to the library until 1931 .

Art collections

There is a Gothic and Baroque gallery in the monastery. The best known are the Gothic panel paintings of the Sebastian Altar by Albrecht Altdorfer ( Danube School ). The pen holds other art treasures from many areas.

Marble hall

Marble Hall: Allegorical Representation of Transylvania ( Bartolomeo Altomonte )

The marble hall is one of the most beautiful hall buildings from the Baroque period and bears the clear signature of Jakob Prandtauer . The artistic design alludes to the time of the Turkish wars. Emperor Charles VI. and Prince Eugene find their glorification in it. The ceiling painting by Bartolomeo Altomonte shows an apotheosis of Charles VI. as the Turkish winner and expresses the hope for a new time of peace. The stucco was made by Franz Josef Holzinger , who lived in St. Florian and who furnished numerous rooms in the monastery from 1719 to 1750.

Imperial room

Bed made for Prince Eugene with depictions from the Turkish War

The 14 imperial rooms in the monastery were set up for the visit of the emperor and his company. In addition to the sumptuous rooms for the emperor and the empress, there are other rooms such as B. the soldiers' room, which has a strange bed. The Soldier's Room and the Alexander Room were made by the Winterthur painter Felix Meyer (and his son) and are one of his most important works.

Collegiate Basilica

Pope's coat of arms in the collegiate church
Chancel of the basilica with pulpit
Ceiling fresco: The death of St. Florian

The collegiate church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Other patrons are St. Florian and St. Augustine. In 1999, the Church by Pope John Paul II. To minor basilica were collected. A papal coat of arms from Klaus Wedenig on the left behind the grille reminds of this event .

Choir stalls

The richly carved choir stalls, which are crowned by the two choir organs, are special showpieces in the dome. The choir stalls are a joint work of the Linz sculptor Adam Franz and the Bolzano-born Jakob Auer (1702), who created the four figures of the Latin church fathers as well as the statues of Mary and the Angel of the Annunciation with their accompanying little angels on the top of the choir organs.

pulpit

The pulpit made of black lily field marble and the sound cover made of linden wood are by the Viennese court sculptor Josef Ressler (1755). The religious father Augustine holds his burning heart - the symbol of love - up to the church dome, in which the coronation of Mary is depicted. Two putti are trying to knock two false teachers from the pulpit.

crypt

Under the high altar of the monastery basilica is the oldest sacral room of the monastery with Romanesque and Gothic elements. Here was the first burial place of St. Florian. There is also the stone coffin of the Klausneress Wilbirg , who lived for 41 years in a hermitage next to the old collegiate church and died in 1289 with a reputation for holiness. She is venerated as the patron saint of the monastery.

Pews

The old pews from the hands of the monastery carpenter Stefan Jegg (1701–1703) are a gem of the monastery basilica. Thomas Auer created the sculptures on the bank sides.

Side chapels

In the eight side chapels there are baroque altars made of marble. The foremost pair of chapels is the most important in terms of title: on the left the Last Supper Chapel (altarpiece by Leopold Schulz 1848 ) and on the right the Kreuzkapelle (altarpiece by Peter Strudel before 1699). The next pair of chapels is consecrated to the church patrons Florian and Augustine : St. Florian (Leopold Schulz 1837), right St. Augustine (Johann Michael Rottmayr 1719). The stone figures on both altars were created by Leonhard Sattler (1719). The third pair of chapels, seen from the front, represents St. Anna (Michael Willmann 1700) and on the right the Guardian Angel (Michael Willmann 1700). For the last two altars Wenzel Halbax created the Barbara picture on the left in 1694 and on the right Andrea Celesti around 1700 the picture of Maria Magdalena, who washes Jesus' feet.

High altar

The 20 m high high altar consists of the typical red Untersberg marble and has a mass of approx. 700 tons. The high altar picture shows the assumption of Mary into heaven (by Giuseppe Ghezzi).

Cover grille

The nave ends with an outstanding example of blacksmithing, which the Passau master Hans Messner created in 1698/99.

Behind the grille on the right, a modern monument (by Herbert Friedl 1997) commemorates the Klausnerin Wilbirg, who died in 1289, who is venerated in the monastery as the patron saint.

Ceiling frescoes

Another special feature of this church is the complete frescoing of the ceiling by the hands of the Munich court painter Johann Anton Gumpp and his pupil Melchior Steidl . The pictures show symbols of the Lauretan litany as well as the coronation of Mary and scenes from the life of St. Florian.

Bruckner organ

Bruckner organ
Bruckner organ on the 1000 Schilling banknote (1954)
Detail: Cartouche of the arms of Provost Matthäus Gogl (?) On the Bruckner organ

Well known is the organ in the basilica, the so-called Bruckner organ , on which concerts are played regularly. The instrument was built between 1770 and 1774 by the Slovenian organ builder Franz Xaver Krismann with 74 voices on three manual works and a pedal. In the course of time the organ was rebuilt several times, including a. by the organ builders Johann Georg Fischer , Matthäus Mauracher, Gebrüder Mauracher and Wilhelm Zika. Initially, the modifications were limited to the bellows system in order to eliminate the problems with the wind supply. In 1873 the instrument was permanently changed by the organ builder Matthäus Mauracher (Salzburg); in the interest of a more romantic sound, about a third of the registers were replaced and some registers were re-voiced; the instrument received a fourth manual, the disposition was expanded to 78 registers; In addition, the central front of the prospectus was converted from 8 'to 16' length. In 1932 the instrument was revised by the organ builders Dreher & Flamm (Salzburg) and Gebr. Mauracher (Linz); The slide chests were exchanged for cone chests, the instrument was equipped with electropneumatic keyboards and expanded to a total of 92 registers; in addition, the choir organs were connected to the main organ. In 1951 the organ was revised by the organ builder Wilhelm Zika and partially restored to its original condition; the instrument was fitted with slider drawers again, and several Krismann registers were reconstructed; In addition, the disposition was again expanded to 103 votes; the trumpet and the shelving were added, and the labial work was placed in a swell box. In 1996 the Upper Austrian Organ Building Institute Kögler (St. Florian) carried out a restoration. The instrument received electric action and a new console with numerous playing aids (including an electronic 4x640-fold setting system, a disk storage mechanism and an automatic playback system via magnetic tape). The Bruckner organ has 103 registers (7,386 pipes), making it the largest playable church organ in Austria. The playing and stop actions are electric.

I positive C-g 3
Principalino 8th'
Paddock 8th'
echo 8th'
Ottava 4 ′
Small set 4 ′
Falsetti dolci 4 ′
Decima quinta 2 ′
Flauto conditioni 2 ′
Decima nona 1 13
Vigesima secunda 1'
Vigesima sesta 23
Vigesima nona 12
musette 8th'
Tremulant
II Hauptwerk C – g 3
Praestant 16 ′
Douce flute 16 ′
Principal 8th'
Octave 8th'
Flauto hemiolo 8th'
Quintadena 8th'
Unda maris 8th'
Alba 8th'
Octave 4 ′
Super octave 4 ′
Pointed flute 4 ′
Divinaries 4 ′
Quint 2 23
Quint 2 23
Nasat 2 23
Sedecima 2 ′
Gemshorn 2 ′
Flauto in XV 2 ′
Accordo X 4 ′
Mixture VIII 2 ′
III Swell C – g 3
Contra principal 16 ′
Principal 8th'
Flauto comune 8th'
Traverso 8th'
Viola da gamba 8th'
Dulziana 8th'
siren 8th'
Voce umana 8th'
Octave 4 ′
Flauto in Ottava 4 ′
Quintadena 4 ′
Salizetti 4 ′
Dulziana 4 ′
Ciuffoli protei 2 23
Field flute 1'
Ciuffoli protei 1 35
Cornettini III 1 13
Bombeggi bassi 8th'
Maschiotti 4 ′
Mixture VI 2 23
Pedals C – f 1
Principal 32 ′
Bordoni 32 ′
Principal 16 ′
Octave 16 ′
Borduna 16 ′
Violon 16 ′
Quintadena 10 23
Dumped 8th'
Octave 8th'
Hollow flute 8th'
Violonacked 8th'
violoncello 5 13
Gemshorn 4 ′
Super octave 4 ′
Night horn covered 2 ′
Schwegel 2 ′
Accordo XII 8th'
Cornet IV 4 ′
Rauschpfeife 2 ′
Bombardoni grossi 32 ′
Bombardoni mezzanetti 16 ′
bassoon 16 ′
Trumpet 8th'
Clarine 4 ′
Labial work C – g 3
Salizional 16 ′
Tube bare 16 ′
Reed flute 8th'
Night horn 8th'
Salizional 8th'
Large school 5 13
Night horn 4 ′
Portal flute 4 ′
Salizional 4 ′
(Continuation)
Rohrnasat 2 23
Night horn 2 ′
Gemshorn 1 35
Larigot 1 13
Seventh 1 115
Sif flute 1'
None 89
Tremulant
Trumpet work C – g 3
Trumpet 16 ′
Trumpet 8th'
Trumpet 4 ′
Rauschwerk XII 4 ′
Shelf C – g 3
Dulcian 16 ′
Basson 16 ′
Krummhorn 8th'
Bear whistle 8th'
Violin shelf 4 ′
Third cymbal III 16
Tremulant
  • Coupling: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P, III / P; Labial work at I, II, III, IV, P; Trumpet work on II, III, IV, P; Shelves at I, II, III, IV, P
  1. a b c d e f Narrow scale.
  2. a b c d Width of the length.

Choir organ

Organ case by Johann Ulrich Römer

In addition to the large organ, there is also a choir organ in the collegiate church, which is divided on both sides of the presbytery. In the two Roman organ cases from 1691 there is a work by the Mauracher brothers from 1931 with 43 stops.

Bells

The collegiate church has historically grown and musically and artistically valuable church bells , which are divided into two groups: the main bell and the choir or secondary bell .

Main bell

Twelve bells are distributed across the two west towers, with the big bell hanging separately in the north-west tower. It is one of the largest bells in Austria and rings every Thursday evening to commemorate Christ's agony on the Mount of Olives; hence its nickname " fear bell" . In the course of the renovation in 2003, the two bells of the blower tower were added. The main chime that rings together consists of the seven largest bells. The bells of the 14th century, especially the twelve, eleven, six and the first choir bell , testify to the high art of bell casting that came from a St. Florian foundry workshop. They are dated to the years 1318 and 1319.

No. Surname Casting year Caster Weight
(kg)
Diameter
(mm)
Nominal
( HT - 1 / 16 )
tower
1 Fear, Prelate , or Big Bell 1717 Mathias Prininger 8643 2440 f 0 -5 North
2 Women's or dean bell 1648 Martin Fitler 5376 1810 h 0 -5 south
3 Zwölferin or Marienglocke 1318 St. Florian workshop 1560 1250 f sharp 1 +5 south
4th Elferin or Floriani bell 1318 St. Florian workshop 800 1060 a 1 +2 south
5 Sixes or Augustini bell 1319 St. Florian workshop 550 910 cis 2 -4 south
6th Birth Bell ( Gabriel ) 2000 Rudolf Perner , Passau 238 729 d 2 +1 south
7th First choir - or Gregorii bell 1319 St. Florian workshop 300 760 e 2 +1 south
8th - 14th century St. Florian workshop 230 680 fis 2 -4 south
9 Train bell 1689 Johann Gordian Schelchshorn 90 530 g 2 -6 south
10 Second choir bell 1471 Jörg Golpitscher 112 550 g sharp 2 +4 south
11 Evangelist bell 14th century St. Florian workshop 60 440 d 3 -6 south
12 Loreto bells 1690 Italian caster 15th 300 ~ g sharp 3 south

Choir or secondary chimes

There is also an eight-part choir bell. It should serve as a secondary bell for daily use (three choir prayer in the oratorio). The disposition follows a pure C major scale. Musically and technically it is designed as a so-called cymbal peal: the wall thickness (rib) of the bells becomes stronger with increasing pitch, the pitch goes up to the three-stroke octave (c 3 ). The bells ascend and carry the invocation and the seven petitions of the Our Father .

No. Nominal
( HT - 1 / 16 )
Casting year Caster Weight
(kg)
Diameter
(mm)
inscription
1 c 2 ± 0 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 320 768 "Our Father"
2 d 2 -2 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 268 723 "Blessed be your name"
3 e 2 -2 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 223 665 "Your kingdom come"
4th f 2 +1 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 178 627 "Your will will happen"
5 g 2 ± 0 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 146 571 "Our daily bread Give us today"
6th a 2 -1 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 102 511 "Forgive us our debts"
7th h 2 -1 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 82 470 "Do not lead us into temptation"
8th c 3 +2 2000 Karlsruhe bell and art foundry 64 446 "Deliver us from evil"

particularities

Florian Boys' Choir

The monastery houses a boarding school for the Florian Boys 'Choir , a well-known boys' choir that performs concerts around the world. The boys' choir has a long tradition. Such a choir is proven as early as 1071. Today the choir has around 50 singers. The training of the boys is as professional as that of the Vienna Boys' Choir .

International Bruckner Days St. Florian

The Brucknertage St. Florian has been taking place since 1997 and provides direct access to the world and to Anton Bruckner's work at the place of his work.

In order to ensure the further development of this festival, the Brucknertage St. Florian association was brought into being in the 2007 season. The members are responsible for the organization and implementation of the BrucknerTage. This continues the musical tradition of St. Florian Monastery. In 2015, Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony was performed under the direction of Rémy Ballot .

Fire Brigade Museum

The Upper Austrian Fire Brigade Museum St. Florian (also known as the Historical Fire Brigade Armory St. Florian) has been located in part of the baroque abbey dairy , which was built architecturally as a double square courtyard .

Abbey parish churches

The monastery has 33 incorporated parish churches. The Spitz parish church was incorporated in its beginnings.

literature

Web links

Commons : Stift Sankt Florian  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Johannes Ebner, Monika Würthinger (Ed.): The Holy Florian. Tradition and message. In: New archive for the history of the Diocese of Linz. 2003, p. 82 ( online (PDF) in the forum OoeGeschichte.at; the Regensburg writer Ellenhart noted that he finished one of his books "apud sanctum Florianum" on September 12, 819 on his way back from the Hun country).
  2. Georg Heilingsetzer : The Sebastian Altar by Albrecht Altdorfers. In: Yearbook of the Upper Austrian Museum Association. Volume 136a, Linz 1991, pp. 189-195 ( PDF on ZOBODAT ).
  3. ^ The Bruckner organ in the Augustinian Canons' Monastery of St. Florian. In: Internet presence Edition Lade. Günter Lade, accessed on April 22, 2019 .
  4. To the disposition
  5. ^ Jörg Wernisch: Glockenkunde von Österreich , Journal-Verlag, Lienz 2006, pp. 804–809.
  6. ^ Jörg Wernisch: Glockenkunde von Österreich , Journal-Verlag, Lienz 2006, pp. 810–811.

Coordinates: 48 ° 12 '25 "  N , 14 ° 22' 42"  E