St. Florian Monastery () is an Augustinian monastery in the town of

Sankt Florian Sankt Florian (also ''Florian'' or ''St. Florian'') is a town in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. It is 10 miles (16 km) from Linz. Sankt Florian is the home of St. Florian Monastery, a community of Canons Regular named after Saint F ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. Founded in the early ninth century, and later refounded by Augustinians in the eleventh century, St. Florian is the largest monastery in

Upper Austria Upper Austria ( ; ; ) is one of the nine States of Austria, states of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg (state), Salzbur ...

, and rivals

Melk Abbey Melk Abbey () is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several member ...

and

Klosterneuburg Monastery Klosterneuburg Abbey () is a twelfth-century Augustinian monastery of the Catholic Church located in the town of Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria. Overlooking the Danube, just north of the present Vienna city limits at the Leopoldsberg, the monas ...

, as among the most impressive examples of

Baroque architecture Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the late 16th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means to ...

in Austria.Parsons 2000, p. 257. The monastery is dedicated to

Saint Florian Florian (; AD 250 – 304) was a Christian holy man and the patron saint of chimney sweeps; soapmakers, and firefighters. His feast day is 4 May. Florian is also the patron saint of Poland, the city of Linz, Austria, and Upper Austria, jointl ...

, whose fourth century grave lies beneath the monastery.Baumgartner 2001, p. 2.

History

The monastery, named after

, was founded in the

Carolingian The Carolingian dynasty ( ; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charles Martel and his grandson Charlemagne, descendants of the Arnulfing and Pippinid c ...

period. Since 1071 it has housed a community of

Augustinian Canons The Canons Regular of St. Augustine are Catholic priests who live in community under a rule ( and κανών, ''kanon'', in Greek) and are generally organised into religious orders, differing from both secular canons and other forms of religio ...

, and is thus is one of the oldest operational monasteries in the world following the Rule of St. Augustine. Between 1686 and 1708 the monastery complex was reconstructed in

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

style by Carlo Antonio Carlone, whose masterpiece is St. Florian's. After his death, Jakob Prandtauer continued the work. The result is the biggest Baroque monastery in Upper Austria. Bartolomeo Altomonte created the frescoes. Construction of the library wing began in 1744, under Johann Gotthard Hayberger. The library comprises about 130,000 items, including many manuscripts. The gallery contains numerous works of the 16th and 17th centuries, but also some late medieval works of the

Danube School The Danube school or Donau school (German: ''Donauschule'' or ''Donaustil'') was a circle of painters of the first third of the 16th century in Bavaria and Austria (mainly along the Danube valley). Many were also innovative printmakers, usually ...

, particularly by

Albrecht Altdorfer Albrecht Altdorfer ( – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg, Bavaria. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main representative of the Da ...

. In 1827, Polish librarian Father Josef Chmel found one of the oldest Polish literary artifacts, an

illuminated manuscript An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared manuscript, document where the text is decorated with flourishes such as marginalia, borders and Miniature (illuminated manuscript), miniature illustrations. Often used in the Roman Catholic Churc ...

containing the Psalms in Latin, German and Polish in the monastery. Because of the site of discovery, it has been named the Sankt Florian Psalter, and now resides in the

National Library of Poland The National Library (, ''BN'') is the national library of Poland, subject directly to the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The main seat of the National Library is located in the Ochota district of Warsaw, adjacent to the Mo ...

. In January 1941, the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

seized the facility and expelled the monks. From 1942, the ''Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft'' ("Radio Society of the Third Reich"), under general director Heinrich Glasmeier, operated from here. The canons returned after the end of the war. The premises now also house the Upper Austrian Fire Brigade Museum.

Basilica

The canons' church was elevated to a

basilica minor Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural ...

in 1999. It is dedicated to Saint Florian and

Saint Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berbers, Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia (Roman province), Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced th ...

. St. Florian's Priory possesses two organs, the larger one of which is known as the "Bruckner organ" (Brucknerorgel) and contains four manuals, 103 stops and 7,343

pipes Pipe(s), PIPE(S) or piping may refer to: Objects * Pipe (fluid conveyance), a hollow cylinder following certain dimension rules ** Piping, the use of pipes in industry * Smoking pipe ** Tobacco pipe * Half-pipe and quarter pipe, semi-circu ...

. It was played by composer and organist

Anton Bruckner Joseph Anton Bruckner (; ; 4 September 182411 October 1896) was an Austrian composer and organist best known for his Symphonies by Anton Bruckner, symphonies and sacred music, which includes List of masses by Anton Bruckner, Masses, Te Deum (Br ...

, previously a

choirboy A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble. As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" (also derisively) refers to someone who is considered honor ...

at the monastery, when he was the organist, between 1848 and 1855. He is buried beneath the organ inside the church.

List of provosts from 1382

* Stephan Zainkgraben, officiated 1382–1407 * Jodok I. Pernschlag, officiated 1407–1417 * Kaspar I. Seisenecker, officiated 1417–1436 * Lukas Fridensteiner von Maur, officiated1436–1459, bekam 1458 von Papst Pius II. (1458–1464) das Recht der Pontifikalien * Johann II. Stieger, officiated 1459–1467 * Kaspar II. Vorster, officiated 1467–1481 * Peter II. Sieghartner, officiated 1481–1483 * Leonhard Riesenschmied, officiated 1483–1508 * Peter III. Maurer, officiated 1508–1545, resigned * Florian Muth, officiated 1545–1553 * Siegmund Pfaffenhofer, officiated 1553–1572 * Georg I. Freuter, officiated 1573–1598 * Vitus (Veit) Widmann, officiated 1599–1612, died 20 January 1612 * Leopold I. Zehetner, born ca. 1581 in Gemering, officiated 1612–1646, died 30 September 1646 in St. Florian * Matthias Gotter, officiated 1646–1666 * David Fuhrmann, born 1621 in Straubing, officiated 1667–1689, died 6 Oktober 1689 in Linz * Matthäus I. von Weißenberg, born 1644 in Steyr, officiated 1689–1700, died 1700 in St. Florian * Franz Klausius (Clausius) Kröll, officiated 1700–1716 * Johann III. Födermayr, officiated 1716–1732 * Johann Georg II. Wiesmayr, born 4 April 1695, officiated 1732–1755 * Engelbert II. Hofmann, officiated 1755–1766 * Matthäus II. Gogl, officiated 1766–1777 * Leopold II. Trulley, officiated 1777–1793 * Michael I. Ziegler, born 22 February 1744, officiated 1793–1823, died 5 May 1823 in St. Florian * Michael II. Arneth, geb. 9. January 1771, amtierte als Propst 1823–1854, died 24 March 1854 in St. Florian * Friedrich (Theophil) Mayer, born 4 October 1793 in Stockheim, officiated 1854–1858, died 29 December 1858 in Rom * Jodok II. Stülz, born 23 February 1799 in Bezau, officiated 1859–1872 * Ferdinand Moser, born 8 November 1827 in Gmunden, officiated 1872–1901, died 29 October 1901 in St. Florian * Josef Sailer, born 9 September 1839, officiated 1901–1920, died 29 January 1920 in St. Florian * Vinzenz Hartl, born 6 December 1872 in Herzogsdorf, officiated 1920–1944, died 10 April 1944 in Pulgarn * Leopold Hager, born 1 November 1889 in St. Gotthard, officiated 1944–1968, resigned 1968, died 24 February 1972 * Johannes Zauner, born 1913 in Walding, died 24 September 1977, officiated 1968–1977 * Wilhelm Neuwirth, born 12 March 1941, officiated 1977–2005 * Johann Holzinger, born 12 April 1951, officiated since 2005

St. Florian Boys Choir

St. Florian is also known for the St. Florian Boys Choir (''St. Florianer Sängerknaben''), a

boys' choir A boys' choir is a one made up of boys who have yet to begin (or are just in the early stages of) puberty and so retain their high-pitched childhood voice. Members are known as trebles ("boy sopranos") or meanes ("boy altos"), depending on their ...

founded in 1071. This choir has been a traditional part of the monastic worship from its foundation. It still has particular responsibility for

sacred music Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as a ritual. Reli ...

for the priory, but also now undertakes international concert tours, television appearances and making CDs.

Selected discography

* Franz Farnberger, ''

in St. Florian –

Requiem A Requiem (Latin: ''rest'') or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead () or Mass of the dead (), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased, using a particular form of the Roman Missal. It is ...

& Motetten'', St. Florianer Sängerknaben - CD: Studio SM D2639 SM 44, 1997 (with Bruckner's ''

Magnificat The Magnificat (Latin for "y soulmagnifies he Lord) is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary or Canticle of Mary, and in the Byzantine Rite as the Ode of the Theotokos (). Its Western name derives from the incipit of its Latin text. This ...

'' & ''

Psalm 22 Psalm 22 of the Book of Psalms (the hind of the dawn) or My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? is a psalm in the Bible. The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament of the Bible. In the s ...

'') * Gunar Letzbor, '' Franz Joseph Aumann - Requiem'', St. Florianer Sängerknaben, Ars Antiqua Austria - CD: Pan Classics PC 10234, 2008 (with Aumann's ''Ecce quomodo moritur justus'', ''Tenebrae factae sunt'' and ''Te Deum'') * Gunar Letzbor, '' Joseph Balthasar Hochreither - Requiem; Missa Jubilus sacer''. St. Florianer Sängerknaben, Ars Antiqua Austria - CD: Pan Classics PC 10264, 2014

Gallery

St. Florian - Stift, Westtrakt mit Stiftskirche.JPG, West façade with church St. Florian - Stiftskirche, Bruckner-Orgel.JPG, Organ loft with the Bruckner organ Closter Florian.png, Drawing by Georg Matthäus Vischer, 1674 St Florian Stift Prälatengarten.JPG, Prälatengarten Stift Sankt Florian 0136.JPG, St. Florian Monastery balustrade and ceiling detail Stift Sankt Florian 0134.JPG, Interior stairway

References

;Notes ;Citations ;Bibliography * * *

External links

Stift St. Florian official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Florian Monastery Augustinian monasteries in Austria Monasteries in Upper Austria Basilica churches in Austria Tourist attractions in Upper Austria