Seckau Abbey

Seckau Abbey (German: Abbey of Our Lady) is a Benedictine monastery and Co-Cathedral[1] in Seckau in Styria, Austria.

Seckau Abbey
Seckau Abbey, Styria, Austria
Religion
AffiliationCatholic Church
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusAbbey
Year consecrated1164
StatusActive
Location
LocationSeckau in Styria, Austria
Seckau Abbey is located in Austria
Seckau Abbey
Shown within Austria
Geographic coordinates47.273889°N 14.786111°E / 47.273889; 14.786111
Architecture
TypeAbbey
StyleRomanesque
FounderArchbishop Konrad I of Salzburg
Groundbreaking1143
Website
www.abtei-seckau.at

History

Middle Ages

Seckau Abbey was endowed in 1140 by Augustinian canons. An already existing community in Sankt Marein bei Knittelfeld was moved to Seckau in 1142. This establishment was dissolved in 1782. At the request of Archbishop Konrad I of Salzburg, Pope Innocent II instituted the founding of the congregation and the transfer to Seckau on 12 March 1143. The abbey church, a Romanesque basilica, was built from 1143 to 1164, and was consecrated on 16 September 1164.

According to an old custom, the canons founded a double monastery. The women's chorus likely came to the abbey no later than 1150 from Salzburg, mentioned in a deed of the Noble Burchard of Mureck in 1150.

Seckau Abbey

In 1883 the monastery was resettled by Benedictines from Beuron Archabbey, who had had to leave Germany because of the Kulturkampf. In 1940 the monks were evicted by the Gestapo and the buildings were confiscated. In 1945 the monks were able to return.

The abbey maintains a secondary school ("Gymnasium") and carries out the duties of the pastoral care belonging to a parish.

It is part of the Beuronese Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation.

Abbey church

The abbey church, a Romanesque basilica, was built between 1143 and 1164. For centuries it was the place of burial of the Inner Austrian line of the Habsburgs.[2] In 1930 it was declared a minor basilica.

  • Seckau Abbey
    Seckau Abbey
  • Seckau Abbey courtyard
    Seckau Abbey courtyard
  • Seckau Abbey inner courtyard
    Seckau Abbey inner courtyard
  • Basilica spires
    Basilica spires
  • Basilica Seckau - interior
    Basilica Seckau - interior
  • Romanesque Crucifixion scene
    Romanesque Crucifixion scene
  • Habsburg mausoleum
    Habsburg mausoleum
  • Habsburg Mausoleum, cenotaph
    Habsburg Mausoleum, cenotaph
  • Habsburg mausoleum (detail)
    Habsburg mausoleum (detail)

In numismatics

Seckau Abbey was selected in 2008 as a main motif for a high value Austrian euro collectors' coin: the Seckau Abbey commemorative coin. The obverse shows a wide view of Seckau Abbey looking west. Located in the center is the Romanesque basilica with its two towers surrounded by the Baroque monastic buildings. The reverse shows a view from the main entrance of the church to the high altar, depicting the mediaeval crucifixion group hanging on four massive chains.


References
  1. "Dom- und Abteikirche Mariä Himmelfahrt, Seckau, Steiermark, Austria". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  2. (in German) Seckau, Steiermark / Stiftsbasilika Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
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