- Feb 5, 2002
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Nestled within Austria are all sorts of treasures, sometimes treasures hiding in plain sight. From the outside the parish church of St. Oswald simply seems like a beautiful little church, but in the bigger scheme of the churches of Europe it doesn't particularly stand out. Exteriorly the church's form would be very similar to many churches in the new world. Rectangular in shape, reasonably simple gothic windows, a single spire rising up to alert the locals to its presence; but located within that relatively humble shell are altars with altarpieces of incredible beauty and artistry.
First though, a little bit about the history of the church. The church was founded in the fourteenth century and during that time it a Eucharistic miracle happened here, leading to many of the faithful to begin make pilgrimages here -- and thus also leading to the growth and expansion of the church itself. Eventually a monastery of women was established here -- an order of Augustinian hermits -- to help support the church, but regrettably by the late eighteenth century, the monastery would be dissolved, no doubt a casualty of the political turmoil of the times.
I will say that the church has an impressive main entrance and an equally impressive vaulted roof, so it is not that is has no other noteworthy features, but I've purposefully chosen to keep our focus here for today on the beautiful woodcarvings of the pilgrimage church, specifically the two late gothic (or possibly Renaissance) era altarpieces. Regrettably, little concrete historical information is readily available about them, but I think we can rest content to simply enjoy them for their artistic content and liturgical beauty. We begin with the high altar with its triptych.
THE HIGH ALTAR
Continued below.
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First though, a little bit about the history of the church. The church was founded in the fourteenth century and during that time it a Eucharistic miracle happened here, leading to many of the faithful to begin make pilgrimages here -- and thus also leading to the growth and expansion of the church itself. Eventually a monastery of women was established here -- an order of Augustinian hermits -- to help support the church, but regrettably by the late eighteenth century, the monastery would be dissolved, no doubt a casualty of the political turmoil of the times.
I will say that the church has an impressive main entrance and an equally impressive vaulted roof, so it is not that is has no other noteworthy features, but I've purposefully chosen to keep our focus here for today on the beautiful woodcarvings of the pilgrimage church, specifically the two late gothic (or possibly Renaissance) era altarpieces. Regrettably, little concrete historical information is readily available about them, but I think we can rest content to simply enjoy them for their artistic content and liturgical beauty. We begin with the high altar with its triptych.
THE HIGH ALTAR
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| At the top is found a rood scene with Christ crucified in the centre, surrounded by Our Lady and St. John to either side. Also visible are St. Sebastian and one other unidentified saint who appears to likely be S. Rocco. |
Continued below.
Altarpieces of the Church of St. Oswald, Seefeld in Tyrol, Austria
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