Michaelbeuern Abbey
Encyclopedia
Michaelbeuern Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Dorfbeuern
near Salzburg
in Austria
.
Monastery Register("Klosterverzeichnis") in 817 as "Buria". After
the Hungarian wars
, reconstruction began in 977 with an endowment from Emperor Otto II
. More times of crisis came upon the abbey with the fire of 1346,
mismanagement of the prebendal income and the effects of the Reformation
. From the 17th century however Michaelbeuern began a long period of prosperity, which led to ambitious building works, for
example the Baroque
high altar of 1691 in the abbey church, by Meinrad Guggenbichler and Johann Michael Rottmayr
. At this time more than twenty-five monks of Michaelbeuern gained their
doctorates at the Benedictine University of Salzburg
. The community also took on many pastoral responsibilities in the surrounding parishes. During the National Socialist
period the monks were expelled, but returned after the war
. The abbey church, re-romanised, was re-dedicated in 1950.
From 1641 the abbey was a member of the Salzburg Congregation, which in 1930 was merged into the present Austrian Congregation
of the Benedictine Confederation
.
Dorfbeuern
Dorfbeuern is a municipality in the district of Salzburg-Umgebung in the state of Salzburg in Austria.-Overview:Dorfbeuern is situated in the district Salzburg - Umgebung, 30 km north of Salzburg on the border to Upper Austria....
near Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
History
A monastic cell existed here as early as 736 or thereabouts, referred to in the AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
Monastery Register("Klosterverzeichnis") in 817 as "Buria". After
the Hungarian wars
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, reconstruction began in 977 with an endowment from Emperor Otto II
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.-Early years and co-ruler with Otto I:...
. More times of crisis came upon the abbey with the fire of 1346,
mismanagement of the prebendal income and the effects 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...
. From the 17th century however Michaelbeuern began a long period of prosperity, which led to ambitious building works, for
example the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
high altar of 1691 in the abbey church, by Meinrad Guggenbichler and Johann Michael Rottmayr
Johann Michael Rottmayr
Johann Michael Rottmayr , was an Austrian painter. He was the first notable baroque painter north of Italy....
. At this time more than twenty-five monks of Michaelbeuern gained their
doctorates at the Benedictine University of Salzburg
University of Salzburg
The University of Salzburg, or Paris Lodron University after its founder, the Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron, is located in the Austrian city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, home of Mozart. It is divided into 4 faculties: catholic theology, law, humanities and natural science.Founded in 1622, it...
. The community also took on many pastoral responsibilities in the surrounding parishes. During the National Socialist
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
period the monks were expelled, but returned after the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The abbey church, re-romanised, was re-dedicated in 1950.
From 1641 the abbey was a member of the Salzburg Congregation, which in 1930 was merged into the present Austrian Congregation
Austrian Congregation
The Austrian Congregation is a congregation of Benedictine monasteries situated in Austria, within the Benedictine Confederation.-History:The Congregation was founded on 3 August 1625 by Pope Urban VIII, and consisted of eleven Benedictine monasteries in Austria:*Altenburg Abbey*Garsten...
of the Benedictine Confederation
Benedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
.