The Minoritenkirche or its current formal name, Italian National Church of Mary of the Snow (German: Italienische Nationalkirche Maria Schnee) is one of the oldest and most artistically valuable churches in the first district of Vienna, Innere Stadt, on the northwest side of the Hofburg imperial palace complex. Being one of the oldest, it is not surprising that it experienced a very turbulent history.
.JPG "The Minoritenkirche in the first district of Vienna") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
History
The site on which the church is built was given to the Franciscans in 1224. Franciscans are members of a religious order founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209 and dedicated to the virtues of humility and poverty. It is now divided into three independent branches but the most prominent group is the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans or informally the Minorites. It is said that St. Francis of Assisi asked the Duke Leopold VI on his return from the Holy Land in 1219 to permit entrance of some of Franciscans to Vienna. Five years later in 1224, the first group of them entered Vienna. They were given a piece of land probably with a little church outside the wallsof the city, between the Scots Monastery and the ducal residence. The Minoritesthen, began to build a monastery, which is mentioned in documents in 1234. Of that Romanesque building nothing is left today.
For the strong growth of Franciscan Communities, building a new church and monastery was necessary. Especially the great fire of 1276 has burned a large part of the monastery. The same year, the foundation stone was laid by King Premysl Ottokar II for a new church on the current site which became one of the first Gothic churches in Eastern Austria. The monarch also promised tax exemption for all who had helped to build the church.
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Ottokar's death at the Battle of Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigenon 26 August 1278, delayed the building process. His embalmed body remained for 30 weeks in the chapter house of the monastery until he was transferred to Znojmo and finally to Prague. Duke Albrecht II later supported the building process. The Gothic Ludwig choir was built between 1316 and 1328, and used as a mausoleum in the 14th and 15th centuries. Construction of the church was finally completed in 1350. The Minoritenkirche suffered serious damages during the first and second Turkish siege (1529 and 1683 respectively). Also during the second Turkish siege the tower of Minoritenkirche was used as a watchtower and therefore bombarded several times by the Turks and badly damaged. The top of the bell tower was then replaced by a flat tiled roof which still exists today.
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
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In the course of the religious politics of Emperor Joseph II, Franciscans were moved to a Trinitarian monastery on the Alserstrasse in 1783 and the Minoritenkirche was given to the local Italian community, which was founded in Vienna in 1625 under the leadership of William Lamormaini. The church thereupon was renamed to "Italian National Church of Mary of the Snow"(Santa Maria Maggiore) and last until today.
Exterior
The Tympanum is divided by circle impacts into three fields, whereby in the middle field, Christ on a branch cross is displayed. On the left, is Mary with Mary Magdalene and other female figures; on the right, John the Evangelist, Saint Longinus the soldier, and other male figures.
.JPG "Saint Francis of Assisi") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
.JPG "Monument of Clemens Maria Hofbauer") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
A monument of Clemens Maria Hofbauer (December 26, 1751 – March 15, 1820) is located on the north side of the church. After being exiled from Poland, Hofbauer reached Vienna. He remained there until his death. Hofbauer was a powerful preacher and spent 4 years in this church as a rector. He was canonized a saint of the Catholic Church on May 20, 1909 by Pope Pius X, giving him the title of a saint. Statue of SaintFrancis of Assisi was installed on the north side of the church in 2003.
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
.JPG "Organ") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
Interior
The walls covered with frescoes of the coats of arms of Austrian aristocratic families who either contributed to the construction of the Church or are buried here.
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
High Altar
The high altar and the pulpit - both in neo-Gothic design - were made by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf. The large altarpiece shows a revered painting of the Madonna della Neve (Our Lady of the Snow) lifted up by angels in the Church of St.Maria Maggiore (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome, Italy. In the lower part of the painting the Roman mother church can be seen.
.JPG "King Ottokar II of Bohemia") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
Around the altar, four statues from the 18th Century are placed which were awarded to the Italians by Emperor Joseph II. Right side of the main altar, we see John the Evangelist and Leopold VI and on the left side, are John the Baptist and King Ottokar II of Bohemia.
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| Photo by Amin.Mana |
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Mosaic of “The Last Supper”
The most noteworthy piece inside the church is a mosaic copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s ” The Last Supper” on the northern wall. The mosaic was made in the original size by the Roman artist Giacomo Raffaelli in the years 1805-1814. This masterpiece was commissioned by Napoleon I after he conquered Vienna, but it was not finished before his abdication. After that, Emperor Franz II bought it for Belvedere palace in Vienna and finally it was left to Emperor Ferdinand and installed in Minoritenkirche in 1845-1847, where it remains to this day. The mosaic is 9.18 x 4.47 square meters and weight approximately 20 tons. Raffaelli has completed his work on 24cm thick stone tablets. Some details are particularly impressive: the fineness of the folds of the tablecloth at the ends, the softness of the hair, and the golden glow at sunset, the reflection of light in the glasses and unique in-depth perspective of the room.
.JPG "The Familienmadonna") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
The Familienmadonna
The “Familienmadonna“ is one of the rare statues of colored stone and perhaps even more important than the Last Supper mosaic. This is without doubt one of the most successful Madonna statues in Gothic style in Vienna. The artist is unknown but it was donated in 1345 by Duke Albrecht II to the Minoritenkirche to decorate the interior of the church.
.JPG "Wall painting of St. Francis") |
| Photo by Amin.Mana |
Wall painting of St. Francis
Another art piece inside the church is a fresco of St. Francis dates from the late 15th or the early 16th Century by an unknown artist. This painting on the wall shows one of the most tender and expressive depictions of saints; his face is considered deeply absorbed in prayer. Of note are also the cross which he holds in his left hand and the visible stigmata on the right hand.
Text Source: wikipedia.org
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.JPG "Saint Francis of Assisi")
.JPG "Stained glass window")
.JPG "View of the altar")
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