| Karja Church | |
|---|---|
 Karja church, façade | |
  Karja Church | |
| 58°31′24″N22°43′57″E / 58.52333°N 22.73250°E | |
| Country | Estonia |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| History | |
| Founded | probably late 13th century to early 14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romanesque Gothic |
Karja Church (Estonian : Karja kirik) is a medieval Lutheran church located in the Linnaka village on Saaremaa island, Estonia. It is the rural church with the richest medieval stone sculpture decoration in all the Baltic states. [1]
The origins of the church are not well known, but it was most probably constructed sometime during the late 13th or early 14th century. Originally it was dedicated to St. Catherine and St. Nicholas. There is evidence that the church was from the beginning designed not only as a place of worship, but also to be able to function as a refuge in times of danger or war; there are rooms above the vestry and the vaulted ceiling, equipped with fireplaces and not readily accessible, which may have been designed to be able to house the congregation safely. In later times, these areas were probably used by pilgrims from Scandinavia travelling to Livonia. The fact that the church served as a stopover for pilgrims may also serve to explain how it got its rich decoration. [2]
The church is rather small, compared with other medieval churches on Saaremaa, and elsewhere nearby, and of simple form. It has a single nave, spanned by high, whitewashed vaults forming two bays, a simple choir and a vestry. Interior details worth mentioning are on the baptismal font from the 14th century, a crucifix from the 15th century and the pulpit, dating from 1638 and made by local artisan Balthasar Raschky. [1] What makes the church unique, however, is its rich interior decoration. [2]
The interior of the church displays several relatively well-preserved medieval mural paintings. These depict symbols, probability of pagan origin, such as a triskelion, pentagram, grotesque devils and other symbols of unclear significance. In addition, there are also more purely decorative murals. [2]
The church is profusely rich in carved stone sculpture, present on portals, brackets and bosses throughout the church. The stone carvings have probably been executed by successive generations of master carvers, including, very probably, artisans from Germany, Sweden and France. [3] The style of the decorations range from Romanesque to Gothic and high Gothic. The motives ranges from purely decorative foliage, to a Calvary group adjacent to the south portal, a notable sculpture group depicting St. Catherine, patron saint of scholars, holding a book and an equally prominent carved sculpture of St. Nicholas, patron saint of fishermen, accompanied by a monk holding a ship. The Calvary shows Mary and John mourning and the two crucified robbers: one of them listened to Jesus and repented of his sins, the other only laughed at Christ's words. The relief depicts the moment when the souls, in the form of little children, depart from the robber's bodies. An angel takes care of one of the souls, while the other has makes a journey with the Devil. [2]
A high cross or standing cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval tradition in Ireland and Britain of raising large sculpted stone crosses, usually outdoors. These probably developed from earlier traditions using wood, perhaps with metalwork attachments, and earlier pagan Celtic memorial stones; the Pictish stones of Scotland may also have influenced the form. The earliest surviving examples seem to come from the territory of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, which had been converted to Christianity by Irish missionaries; it remains unclear whether the form first developed in Ireland or Britain.
A triskelion or triskeles is an ancient motif consisting either of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry or of other patterns in triplicate that emanate from a common center. The spiral design can be based on interlocking Archimedean spirals, or represent three bent human legs. It occurs in artifacts of the European Neolithic and Bronze Ages with continuation into the Iron Age – especially in the context of the La Tène culture and of related Celtic traditions. The actual triskeles symbol of three human legs is found especially in Greek antiquity, beginning in archaic pottery and continued in coinage of the classical period.
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. With its accompanying friary, Sacro Convento, the basilica is a distinctive landmark to those approaching Assisi. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 12th century, or later depending on region. The preceding period is known as the Pre-Romanesque period. The term was invented by 19th-century art historians, especially for Romanesque architecture, which retained many basic features of Roman architectural style – most notably round-headed arches, but also barrel vaults, apses, and acanthus-leaf decoration – but had also developed many very different characteristics. In Southern France, Spain, and Italy there was an architectural continuity with the Late Antique, but the Romanesque style was the first style to spread across the whole of Catholic Europe, from Sicily to Scandinavia. Romanesque art was also greatly influenced by Byzantine art, especially in painting, and by the anti-classical energy of the decoration of the Insular art of the British Isles. From these elements was forged a highly innovative and coherent style.
The term Poor Man's Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. These artworks may take the form of carvings, paintings, mosaics or stained-glass windows. In some churches a single artwork, such as a stained-glass window, has the role of Poor Man's Bible, while in others, the entire church is decorated with a complex biblical narrative that unites in a single scheme.
Saint Martin's Church of Valjala is a Lutheran church in Valjala, on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia. It is the oldest stone church on Saaremaa and possibly the oldest surviving church in Estonia.
Angers Cathedral is a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Maurice in Angers, France. It is the seat of the Bishops of Angers.
Le Puy Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne, France. The cathedral is a national monument. It has been a centre of pilgrimage in its own right since before the time of Charlemagne, as well as being a stopover on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Since 1998 it has been part of a multi-location UNESCO World Heritage Site along France's Santiago pilgrimage routes. It is the seat of the Bishop of Le Puy.
Hovhannavank is a medieval monastery located in the village of Ohanavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The monastery stands on the edge of the Kasagh River canyon, and its territory is adjacent to the village of Ohanavan. The deep gorge is carved by the Kasagh River.
The Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Prešov is one of the oldest and most important churches in Slovakia. The external dimensions of the cathedral are 54.7m in length, 34.45m in width. The indoor nave is 16 m tall and tower reaches a height of 71 meters. The temple's design takes inspiration from the Late Gothic hall churches with three naves.
Kaarma-Kirikuküla is a village in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County in western Estonia. As of the 2011 census, the settlement's population was 18.
Püha is a village in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County in western Estonia.
Muhu St. Catherine's Church, sometimes simply Muhu Church, is a medieval Lutheran church on Muhu island, in Saare County, Estonia.
Bro Church is a medieval era Lutheran church at Bro on the Swedish island Gotland. Situated on what was possibly a pre-Christian sacred site, the presently visible church was built during the 13th century. Stylistically, its architecture shows a mix of Romanesque and Gothic elements. It still contains some medieval furnishings, including a baptismal font by Sigraf, and murals. The church belongs to the Väskinde parish in the Diocese of Visby of the Church of Sweden.
Sundre Church is a medieval church on the Swedish island of Gotland. It was built during the 13th century and has remained largely unaltered since. It lies in the Diocese of Visby.
Vamlingbo Church is a medieval church on the Swedish island of Gotland, and one of the largest on the island. It lies in the Diocese of Visby.
Öja Church is a medieval church in Öja on the Swedish island of Gotland. The church dates from the 13th century and contains an unusual large and elaborately decorated triumphal cross or rood. It belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies within the Diocese of Visby.
Roland Doré was a 17th-century sculptor and his workshop or "atelier" produced many sculptures for the enclos paroissiaux or "parish church enclosure or closes" of Brittany. In particular his work can be seen on calvaries and in the church's south porch. He was born in 1616 and died in 1660. Little detail of his life is known but it is recorded that he practised as an architect in Landerneau, as well as running his workshop, and was recorded as calling himself the "Sculpteur du Roi". His works, all of an ecclesiastical nature, are mainly located in Léon and the north of Cornouaille. They can be taken as works by Doré's workshop rather than just by Doré himself. Brittany is particularly rich in calvaries, some of a very elaborate nature. In most cases the calvary involves both the crucifixion cross and side crosses or gibbets bearing the good and the bad robbers. Below this, on the crosspieces, were statues of those present at the crucifixion. A feature of Breton calvaries is that most of the statues were carved as a pair and effectively back to back. Doré's output was prodigious and he worked on nine monuments in Saint-Thégonnec, five in Logonna-Daoulas and four in the parish of Plougastel-Daoulas. He also received four commissions to work in Hanvec, three in Guiclan, Irvillac and Lampaul-Guimiliau and two commissions in Cléden-Cap-Sizun, Hôpital-Camfrout, Landerneau, La Martyre, Plabennec, Pleyben, Plogonnec, Saint-Nic, Saint-Servais and Saint-Urbain.
Vä Church, sometimes also called Saint Mary's Church in Vä is a well-preserved Romanesque church in Vä, in the southern Swedish province of Scania. It belongs to the Church of Sweden and is a listed building. It was built in the early 12th century, at a time when Scania was part of Denmark. The building was commissioned by a member of the Danish royal family, probably Queen Margaret Fredkulla. The church originally consisted of a nave, a chancel with an apse and two western towers. Quite soon after being finished, it was donated to Premonstratensian monks who used it as the church of their monastery until 1213. It simultaneously functioned as the parish church of Vä. At the end of the Middle Ages, a third tower was built, and in 1593 the building was enlarged. At the beginning of the 19th century, the western towers were demolished. A major restoration was carried out in the 1960s.
Ramsåsa Church is a medieval church in Ramsåsa, Scania, Sweden. It belongs to the Church of Sweden. It was built around 1200, and the tower added in the 15th century. The church contains medieval murals from three different periods, a late Romanesque rood cross and a medieval baptismal font.
Media related to Karja Church at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
