Marienstern Abbey
Encyclopedia
Marienstern Abbey was a Cistercian nunnery in Mühlberg in Brandenburg
, Germany
. Since 2000 a small community of the Claretian
missionary brothers have lived in the former abbey premises.
, made gifts to the new foundation and also granted his consent to convert the former parish church of Mühlberg into the monastic church.
The nunnery was secularised in 1539 during the course of the Reformation
.
structure with Romanesque
elements. In 1565, after several fires, it was reinstated as the parish church of Mühlberg old town. The refectory
dating from the 13th / 14th centuries was altered for agricultural purposes in 1820. From 1992, restoration of the abbey church and of the refectory has been undertaken.
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Since 2000 a small community of the Claretian
Claretians
The Claretians, a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. They strive to follow their founder's “on fire” example and help wherever they are needed. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus...
missionary brothers have lived in the former abbey premises.
History
The abbey was founded in 1228 by the brothers Otto and Bodo of Ileburg (Eilenburg). Henry III, Margrave of MeissenHenry III, Margrave of Meissen
Henry III, called Henry the Illustrious from the House of Wettin was Margrave of Meissen and last Margrave of Lusatia from 1221 until his death; from 1242 also Landgrave of Thuringia.-Life:Born probably at the Albrechtsburg residence in Meissen, Henry was the youngest son of Margrave Theodoric I...
, made gifts to the new foundation and also granted his consent to convert the former parish church of Mühlberg into the monastic church.
The nunnery was secularised in 1539 during the course of the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
.
Buildings
The single-aisled church is a Brick GothicBrick Gothic
Brick Gothic is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northern Europe, especially in Northern Germany and the regions around the Baltic Sea that do not have natural rock resources. The buildings are essentially built from bricks...
structure with Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
elements. In 1565, after several fires, it was reinstated as the parish church of Mühlberg old town. The refectory
Refectory
A refectory is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries...
dating from the 13th / 14th centuries was altered for agricultural purposes in 1820. From 1992, restoration of the abbey church and of the refectory has been undertaken.