CH-DE-Sankt-Maria-Laach Abbey-Church – bartvdpl

Sankt-Maria-Laach Abbey-Church: Christ Mosaic, stained glass and an Eastercandle holder.

about 90 km south of Cologne lies the abbeychurch of Sankt-Maria-Laach. The benedictine Monastery was founded in 1097, but the church wasn’t finished untill 1177. The abbeychurch is built in the romanesque style, and has 6 towers:

The front of the church has two doors under the side towers, connected by a covered collonade in front of the building.

Inside, the choir contains the altar under a baldachin, but is dominated by a large mosaic of Jesus. Below there are mosaics of the 4 evangelists and 3 stained glass windows. Taking the pictures was a big challenge as the church inside was very dark, and given tripods are generally not allowed, i did not risk, so everything was taken handheld….

The main mosaic shows Jesus holding a book with the latin text : “Ego sum via, veritas et vita” – i am the way, the truth and life (John 14.6), along with the letters IC XC the abbreviation in greek letters of Jesus Christ. around are the 12 signs of the zodiac, which comprise the whole year.

Detail of the mosaic

Next let’s take a look at three sets of stained glass windows

Windows at the back

We start with the windows at the back. They were designed by Wilhelm Rupprecht in 1956, and each have dedications of the benefactors.

the first scene shows the creation and the original sin in the garden of eden as well as as the 2 founders of the abbey Heinrich II von Laach and his wife Adelaide of Weimar-Orlamünde, the count of the palatinate of the rhine. (the latin text at the bottom reads their names and title).

There is also a dedication to Theodor Heuss, who was Bundespresident at the time.

Next is a window centered around Jesus, represented as the sacrificial lamb, shown with a dove and a hand from heaven, symbolising respectively the son, the holy ghost and the father – The trinity. Below we see on the left John the Baptist pointing at the lamb with the text in latin from John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World” (from NCB – Biblegateway) on the right we see the apostles andrew and John (the evangelist), with above them the text “Et secuti sunt Iesum” – and they followed Jesus (John 1:37b). as they had heard John the baptist say that Jesus is the lamb of God.

On the bottom is a dedication to Bundeschancellor Konrad Adenauer.

Around the window is a small text: “In nomine Sancte et individe trinitatis ego Giselbertus Abbas Lacensis notum facio tam presentibus quam futuris fidelibus quod ioannes et eius uxor mechtildis allodium suum quod habebant in evernaco et in valveta deo et sancte marie perpetuo iure tradiderunt chorum hic et altare construxerunt de ipso allodio luminis copiam ministrari volentes et missas celebrari pro fidelibus decevenctis” which google translate translates as “In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, I, Giselbert, Abbot of Lac, make known to both present and future faithful that John and his wife Mechtilde have given their allotment, which they had in Ebernach and in Valwig, to God and Holy Mary by perpetual right, and have built a choir here and an altar from the same allotment, wishing that a supply of light may be provided and masses be celebrated for the faithful who have been deprived.” the places are not certain but probably refer to Ebernach and Valwig near Cochem

the third window refers to the apocalypse. on the upper left we saint the archangel Michael defeating the beast, the text reads “et aperuit Terra os suum”, “and the earth opened its mouth”, (Apocalypse 12:16).
on the bottom we see at the left side Saint John (the evangelist) who wrote down his vision of the apocalypse, as well the two donators of the land with the text : “joannes et mechtildis de evernaco chorum hic construxerunt” – John and Mechtild of Ebernach built this church. as well as a dedication to the then minister-president of the region Peter Altmeier.

Choir windows

The choir windows center around Mary, Moses and Elijah. They were also designed by Wilhelm Rupprecht in 1956.

In the middle we have a window dedicated to Mary, represented as queen, and the mother of the church (the women links the figure of Mary with the church), but also there John, to whom Jesus said “this is your mother”.

on one side we see Moses, leading his people through the red sea, while pharohs soldiers perish.

on the other side we see Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, the lower part shows elijah (on the right) receiving food from an angel while being on the run (1 Kings 19)

Side windows

the side windows center around the life of Mary. these were designed by brotehr Notker Becker,.

The top window shows the coronation of Mary in heaven

The middle window below shows the assumption of mary into heaven with the gathered apostles below. . accompanied by the text: “Maria Virgo Assumpta est ad aetereum thalanum quae es tistaquae ascendit sicut aurora consurgens” which google translate translates as “The Virgin Mary was assumed to the heavenly throne, who is the one who ascends like the rising dawn.”

on the left side we see Mary with Child, with below Eve giving the apple to Adam, the moment of original sin, with above a man holding the apple surrounded by the snake. i have no sources explaining this but to me it seems to symbolising, man being entangled by sin and regretting this.

the window on the right side shows Mary with the body of Jesus on good friday, the so called pieta. Below is again man and other people entangled by the snake. a-Again i have no sources, so to to it seems to symbolise the continued entanlement of humankind by sin, with the death of Jesus on the cross, as atonement for mankind.

Easter candleholder

another interesting thing in this church is the easter candle holder. i have no idea who the artist is or when it was made, (if someone does, i’d be happy to update), but feels rather modern. it has three sides with each three scenes depicted.