Sittichenbach Abbey
Encyclopedia
Sittichenbach Abbey sometimes also known as Sichem Abbey, is a Cistercian monastery in Sittichenbach, now part of Osterhausen
near Eisleben
in the Mansfeld-Südharz
district, Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
.
in 1141 by Esiko of Bornstedt, under the first abbot Volkuin. The new foundation rapidly acquired extensive lands on which to establish farms. In 1180 monks from Sittichenbach, at the request of the Margrave of Brandenburg, established Lehnin Abbey
. Later foundations were Buch Abbey near Leisnig
(1192) and Grünhain Abbey in the Erzgebirge (1235).
In 1346 the abbey suffered greatly from a feud between Ludwig of Halberstadt, Bishop of Meissen, and the Count of Mansfeld. The abbot and monks were taken hostage and treated so harshly that several of them died. The Count of Mansfeld was excommunicated as a result of this incident.
In 1540 in the course of the Reformation
the abbey was dissolved. It was at first in the possession of the Counts of Mansfeld, and transferred by them in 1612 to John George I, Elector of Saxony
.
From this time onwards the abbey premises were used for local government purposes. Amt Sittichenbach passed in 1656 to Saxe-Weißenfels and from 1686 to 1745 to the Principality of Saxe-Querfurt
, after which it was included in the Electorate or Kingdom of Saxony
. It was incorporated into the new Prussia
n state in 1815.
in 1990, the lands and remaining buildings were returned after nearly 500 years to the Cistercian order. They have done much restoration, including a very creative re-building of the chapel which is used for daily prayer. Other buildings have been added and restored so that the site has become a hotel and retreat centre. An open field has been developed into a beautiful area for meditative walks which includes gardens, worship spaces, shrines and a labyrinth.
There are a few remains of the original abbey buildings still to be seen: among them are the abbots' chapel, the fishpond and the dovecote.
Osterhausen
Osterhausen is a village and a former municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2009, it is part of the town Eisleben....
near Eisleben
Eisleben
Eisleben is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is famous as the hometown of Martin Luther, hence its official name is Lutherstadt Eisleben. As of 2005, Eisleben had a population of 24,552...
in the Mansfeld-Südharz
Mansfeld-Südharz
- History :The district was established by merging the former districts of Sangerhausen and Mansfelder Land as part of the reform of 2007.- Towns and municipalities :The district Mansfeld-Südharz consists of the following subdivisions:-References:...
district, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, 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...
.
First foundation
The abbey was founded as a daughter house of Walkenried AbbeyWalkenried Abbey
Walkenried Abbey was one of the most celebrated Cistercian abbeys of Germany, located in the village of Walkenried in the district of Osterode in Lower Saxony, Germany.-History:...
in 1141 by Esiko of Bornstedt, under the first abbot Volkuin. The new foundation rapidly acquired extensive lands on which to establish farms. In 1180 monks from Sittichenbach, at the request of the Margrave of Brandenburg, established Lehnin Abbey
Lehnin Abbey
Lehnin Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Lehnin in Brandenburg, Germany. Since 1911 it has accommodated the Luise-Henrietten-Stift, a Protestant women's community.-History:...
. Later foundations were Buch Abbey near Leisnig
Leisnig
Leisnig is a small town in the district of Mittelsachsen, federal Free State of Saxony in Germany.-History:A settlement in this location was first mentioned in 1046. The town features Mildenstein Castle which is over 1000 years old. The house Markt 13 shows the coat of arms of the family...
(1192) and Grünhain Abbey in the Erzgebirge (1235).
In 1346 the abbey suffered greatly from a feud between Ludwig of Halberstadt, Bishop of Meissen, and the Count of Mansfeld. The abbot and monks were taken hostage and treated so harshly that several of them died. The Count of Mansfeld was excommunicated as a result of this incident.
In 1540 in 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...
the abbey was dissolved. It was at first in the possession of the Counts of Mansfeld, and transferred by them in 1612 to John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
.
From this time onwards the abbey premises were used for local government purposes. Amt Sittichenbach passed in 1656 to Saxe-Weißenfels and from 1686 to 1745 to the Principality of Saxe-Querfurt
Querfurt
Querfurt a town in Saalekreis district in the south of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, situated in a fertile area on the Querne, west from Merseburg, on a branch line from Oberroblingen. Pop. 12,935 .-History:...
, after which it was included in the Electorate or Kingdom of Saxony
Kingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
. It was incorporated into the new Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n state in 1815.
Second foundation
After the reunification of GermanyGerman reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
in 1990, the lands and remaining buildings were returned after nearly 500 years to the Cistercian order. They have done much restoration, including a very creative re-building of the chapel which is used for daily prayer. Other buildings have been added and restored so that the site has become a hotel and retreat centre. An open field has been developed into a beautiful area for meditative walks which includes gardens, worship spaces, shrines and a labyrinth.
There are a few remains of the original abbey buildings still to be seen: among them are the abbots' chapel, the fishpond and the dovecote.