Seckau Abbey

Seckau Abbey
300px Seckau Abbey, Styria, Austria
Shown within Austria
Basic information
Location	Seckau in Styria, Austria
Geographic coordinates
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Year consecrated	1164
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Abbey
Status	Active
Website	www.abtei-seckau.at
Architectural description
Architectural type	Abbey
Architectural style	Romanesque
Founder	Archbishop Konrad I of Salzburg
Groundbreaking	1143

Seckau Abbey (German: Abbey of Our Lady) is a Benedictine monastery in Seckau in Styria, Austria.

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. In 1930 it was declared a minor basilica.

Gallery

• Benediktinerstift Seckau.JPG

  Seckau Abbey

• Benediktinerabtei Seckau, Äußerer Klosterhof.jpg

  Seckau Abbey courtyard

• Abtei Seckau - Innerer Klosterhof 1.JPG

  Seckau Abbey inner courtyard

• Benediktinerabtei Seckau, Türme der Basilika.JPG

  Basilica spires

• Basilika Seckau - Innenraum 2.jpg

  Basilica Seckau - interior

• Basilika Seckau - Romanische Kreuzigungsgruppe.jpg

  Romanesque Crucifixion scene

• Basilika Seckau, Habsburger Mausoleum, Blick zum Altar.jpg

  Habsburg mausoleum

• 

  Habsburg Mausoleum, cenotaph

• Basilika Seckau, Habsburger Mausoleum, Wappen Karls II. auf Kenotaph.jpg

  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.

• „Seckau Abbey“ commemorative coin, 2008
• 10-Euro-Silbermünze "Benediktinerabtei Seckau", 2008, Seite 1.jpg

  Frontside

• 10-Euro-Silbermünze "Benediktinerabtei Seckau", 2008, Seite 2.jpg

  Backside

External links

• Abtei Seckau official website (German)
• Seckau Abbey (JPEG)
• Stift Seckau on TouristicViews.com (German)