Saint Cyriak, an Early Ottonic Church

St. Cyriak church was built around the year 993 A.D. by Birchtilo Earl auf Breisgau, a liegeman of Emperor Otto III. The tower was built at the beginning of the 11th Century. The trees used as timber for the tower were cut in Winter 996 A.D. For centuries the church and surrounding buildings served as a monastery for Benedictine nuns. The monastery was finally closed down in 1555 A.D. While the church was still used as a parish church, the rest of the buildings slowly decayed after severe damage in the Thirty Years War. In 1796 all remaining buildings of the monastery burned down, only the church could was saved. The church of St. Cyriak is built in a pre-romanesque style, called Ottonic style. Less than 50 buildings from the Ottonic period can still be found in Germany.

In the panorama you can see some remaining parts of Ottonic frescoes. These frescoes are highly endangered. The parish of St. Cyriak is struggling to raise some 1.3 million Euros for the renovation of the church. You can find more information on this project here (Sorry, only in German).

The church brass bands of Holy Cross in Freiburg and Staufen/Sulzburg joined for a concert that took place on the 14th of December, 2008 in St. Cyriak for the greater glory of God, for the joy of the listeners and to raise money for the renovation.

For this panorama I chose "Nun komm der Heiden Heiland" - Preludium, 3 verses with congregation singing and Postludium. The text is by Martin Luther, after Ambrose de Milan "Veni, Redemptor Gentium."

Veni, Redemptor gentium;
Ostende partum virginis;
Miretur omne saeculum.
Talis decet partus Deo.

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,
Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt,
Dass sich wunder alle Welt,
Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt.

Now come, Saviour of the gentiles,
recognised as the child of the Virgin,
so that all the world is amazed
God ordained such a birth for him.

He went forth from his chamber
from the royal palace so pure,
by nature God and man, a hero,
he hastens to run his way.

His course came from the Father
and leads back to the Father,
he went down to Hell
and back to God’s throne.


For the WWP event "Colors," I contributed a panorama of church and churchyard:
Vivid Colours, Where I Least Expected Them

Europe / Germany

Lat: 47° 50' 29" N
Long: 7° 42' 38" E

Elevation: 339 m

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Canon EOS 5D, Sigma 12-24 mm, Manfrotto 303SPH + 338, PhotomatixPro, Realviz Stitcher Unlimited