- Peterskirche, Vienna
Infobox religious building
building_name=St. Peter's Church
caption=Peterskirche (as seen from the Graben)
location=Vienna ,Austria
geo = coord|48|12|33.7|N|16|22|10.4|E|display=inline
religious_affiliation=Roman Catholic
district=
consecration_year=1733
status= Church cite web |url=http://stephanscom.at/pfarren/dekanate/Stadtdekanat_1/St._Michael |title= St. Michael Pfarre |accessmonthday=11-12 |accessyear=2007
author= |date= |language=German |publisher= Erzdiözese Wien]
leadership= P. Dr. Christian Spalek "od" Cite web| url=http://www.peterskirche.at| title=Official website of the Peterskirche (Vienna, Austria)|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=Rektoratskirche St. Peter|work=Official website]
website= [http://www.peterskirche.at Official Website]
architect=
*Initial plan:Gabriele Montani
*ModificationsCite web| url=http://www.peterskirche.at/kirche.htm| title=History of the Peterskirche (Vienna, Austria)|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=Rektoratskirche St. Peter|work=Official website] :Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt
*FacadeCite web| url=http://www.peterskirche.at/kirche.htm| title=History of the Peterskirche (Vienna, Austria)|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=Rektoratskirche St. Peter|work=Official website] :Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer
architecture_type=
architecture_style=Baroque
facade_direction= SW
year started=1701
year_completed= 1733
construction_cost=
capacity=400
length= 50 m
width= 20 m
width_nave=
height_max= 56.8 m Cite web| url=http://www.peterskirche.at/kirche.htm| title=History of the Peterskirche (Vienna, Austria)|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=Rektoratskirche St. Peter|work=Official website]
dome_quantity= 1
dome_height_outer= 54 m
dome_height_inner=
dome_dia_outer=30 m
dome_dia_inner=
materials= The Peterskirche (English: "St. Peter's Church") inVienna is a church with a long and eventful history. The Peterskirche was transferred in 1970 by theArchbishop of Vienna Franz Cardinal König to the priests of theOpus Dei Cite web| url=http://www.opusdei.at/sec.php?s=752| title=Geschichte und Einrichtungen des Opus Dei in Österreich|accessdate=2007-10-22|language=German|publisher=Opus Dei Information Office |work=Official website] .The first church
The oldest church building (of which nothing remains today) dates back to the
Early Middle Ages , and there is speculation that it could be the oldest church inVienna (SeeRuprechtskirche ). That Roman church was built on the site of a Roman encampment.This church was preplaced with a Romanesque church with a
nave and twoaisle s. It is believed to have been established byCharlemagne around 800, although there is no evidence supporting this view. At the outside of the church, there is a reliefsculpture by R. Weyrconsecrate d to the founding of the church by Charlemagne. In any case, a church ofSaint Peter in Vienna is first mentioned in 1137. Around the end of the 12th century, the church became part of theSchottenstift .The mediæval church had three
altar s, with anapse in the south instead of the normal eastern orientation. This unusual feature has triggered many discussions among experts, and it is suspected that the church was adapted from a previously secular building. The church was surrounded by shops and a nearby building housed the "Stadtguardia", a forerunner of the modern police. The old church burned down in 1661 and was given only makeshift repairs. The decision to build a new church was taken up with the arrival of the Fraternity of the Holy Trinity of which the emperor Leopold I was a member. He had taken a vow to rebuild this church when Vienna was ravished by the plague in 1679-1680.The new building
The construction of the new
Baroque church was begun around 1701 underGabriele Montani , who was replaced byJohann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1703. The design was inspired by theSt. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican inRome . By 1722, most of the building was finished, and in 1733, the "Peterskirche" was finally consecrated to theHoly Trinity . The new church was the first domed structure inbaroque Vienna. Due to the confinement of available space, it was built in a very compact form, with its oval interior housing an astonishing amount of space and rectangular attachments. The church makes an overwhelming impression on the visitor with its surprisingly rich interior filled with goldenstucco .The
turret ed dome was mainly designed byMatthias Steinl , who was also responsible for the interior decoration and the pews with their fabulouscherub ic heads. Thefresco es were originally painted by the famous ItalianAndrea Pozzo , whose paintings were removed after his death. As a result, in 1713,Johann Michael Rottmayr was able to start a completely new set. The fresco in the cupola represents the "Coronation of Our Lady". On the triumphal arch one can see thecoat of arms of emperor Leopold I. In thespandrel s around the dome are portrayals of the four Evangelists and four Fathers of the Church, painted by the Viennese artist J.G. Schmidt. The same artist also painted the altarpiece in the side chapel of St. Michael.The Baroque high altar was created by
Antonio Galli Bibiena and his Bolognese workshop (construction) andMartino Altomonte (1657-1745) (altarpiece ). The altarpiece portrays the "Healing of the Lame by St. Peter and St. John in Jerusalem". The same artist also painted the altarpiece in the side chapel of theHoly Family . The small painting of theImmaculate Conception above thehigh altar is by the 19th century artistKupelwieser . Theshrine s in the side chapels of the Holy Family and St. Michael containmartyr s from Romancatacomb s, donated byCardinal Kollonitz in 1733. They were put on clothes from this period and placed in the glass coffins.The gilded ornate pulpit is a magnificent sculpture by
Matthias Steinl (1726) with on top of the canopy a representation of the Holy Trinity. Opposite the pulpit, there is a dramatic gold-and-silver representation of the "Martyrdom of St.John of Nepomuk ", sculpted byLorenzo Mattielli . On top of it is the beautiful statue of "The Mother of God".Over the years, the paintings had become darker, and the interior began to take on a grey appearance. From 1998 to 2004, the church underwent a renovation, which returned the paintings to their original rich colouring and brightness.
Access
The Peterskirche is located on Petersplatz, right next to Graben and just west of the Pestsäule. The street "Jungferngasse" cuts through the
pedestrian zone and leads directly to the church. The Peterskirche is largely obscured by the surrounding buildings, and can only be seen clearly from directly in front.Gallery
References
*The information in this article is partly based on a translation of its German counterpart [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterskirche_(Wien)] .
*St. Peter's Church, a small English guide - available in the church.
*Eyewitness Travel Guides - Vienna (in Dutch translation : Capitool reisgidsen: Wenen); Dorling Kindersley Ltd. Londen, 1994 ISBN 90-410-1808-5Notes
External links
* [http://www.peterskirche.at Homepage]
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