Stiftskirche St. Cyriakus
Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Originally, the church was likely dedicated to St. Mary and St. Peter, but after the arrival of St. Cyriacus' relics, obtained by Gero himself in Rome around 950, it changed its name to the current one. Additions to the church in the 11th and 12th centuries, include the west crypt, side galleries, the enlargement of the Westwork and the towers and the two-storey cloisters. The vault of the transept were added in the Gothic period. The convent became an imperial abbey, with jurisdiction to a vast area including 23 villages.
After embracing the Protestant creed in 1523, from 1564 to 1606 the convent had only abbesses belonging to the local ruling House of Anhalt dynasty. The last abbess died in 1616. The abbey became a secular domain, although it kept the former privileges and jurisdiction, until it was sold to privates in 1831. In the 19th century the church was deconsecrated and used as a farmer store; most of the windows were thus closed. The crypt became a stable and a potato store. In 1858, thanks to the intervention of art historian Franz Theodor Kugler and historian Ludwig Puttrich, duke Leopold IV of Anhalt-Dessau ordered a restoration, which lasted until 1874. The exterior was partly modified, although the interior has maintained most of the original Ottonian appearance (with the exception of the paintings).
Originally, the church was likely dedicated to St. Mary and St. Peter, but after the arrival of St. Cyriacus' relics, obtained by Gero himself in Rome around 950, it changed its name to the current one. Additions to the church in the 11th and 12th centuries, include the west crypt, side galleries, the enlargement of the Westwork and the towers and the two-storey cloisters. The vault of the transept were added in the Gothic period. The convent became an imperial abbey, with jurisdiction to a vast area including 23 villages.
After embracing the Protestant creed in 1523, from 1564 to 1606 the convent had only abbesses belonging to the local ruling House of Anhalt dynasty. The last abbess died in 1616. The abbey became a secular domain, although it kept the former privileges and jurisdiction, until it was sold to privates in 1831. In the 19th century the church was deconsecrated and used as a farmer store; most of the windows were thus closed. The crypt became a stable and a potato store. In 1858, thanks to the intervention of art historian Franz Theodor Kugler and historian Ludwig Puttrich, duke Leopold IV of Anhalt-Dessau ordered a restoration, which lasted until 1874. The exterior was partly modified, although the interior has maintained most of the original Ottonian appearance (with the exception of the paintings).
Nearby cemeteries
Gernrode, Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
- Total memorials1
- Percent photographed100%
- Percent with GPS100%
Bad Suderode, Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
- Total memorials1
- Percent photographed0%
- Percent with GPS0%
Thale, Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
- Total memorials34
- Percent photographed97%
- Percent with GPS0%
Thale, Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
- Total memorials2
- Percent photographed100%
- Percent with GPS100%
- Added: 2 Apr 2014
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2535828
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