Bürgerspitalkirche St. Blasius

The ancient Bürgerspitalkirche, now the Roman Catholic parish church of St. Blasius (also known as the Heilig-Geist-Kirche), is located in Salzburg, exactly on the Mönchsberg between the western end of Getreidegasse and the old Gstättentor.It was constructed as a hospital church.It is the oldest hall church in southern Germany, together with the Holy Cross Minster in Schwäbisch Gmünd.The church is a component of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Historic Center.

In 1185, the Admont monks’ monastery erected the first chapel on what was then the northern outskirts of Salzburg, dedicated to his patron saint and patron saint of the ill, St Blaise (he was a doctor and bishop in Armenia).Frederick III, Archbishop of Canterbury.Following the property swap with the monks, von Leibnitz had a hospital erected here in 1327 for the city’s ill, elderly, and sickly residents, with the goal of providing basic care and assistance.

The three-aisled church with ribbed vaulting, which has been retained in its essential elements to this day, was built for the new hospital in 1330.The church was built entirely of hefty ashlars from Nagelfluh that were not plastered on the outside.The church was given an extremely steep gabled roof.The church gallery was drawn in between 1410 and 1428, with the gallery parapet planned as an openwork tracery.The rebuilt top level now operated as a prayer choir for the beneficiaries, transforming the church into a double church with two opposite entrances for citizens and benefits.The altar was now at the center of the nave.The vault above the gallery was renovated in 1577.

The church featured nine altars during the Baroque period until Archbishop Hieronymus von Colloredo had part of them removed in 1785.Hugo Schneider’s ideas were used to restore the church in neo-Gothic style in 1864.The vault artwork was removed again in 1937 and 1947-1950.

A 16th-century decorative vault painting was unearthed under old plaster a few decades ago.The rising Christ is shown on the south wall, together with the three Christian virtues of faith, love, and hope.

The east facade niche architecture with the crucifixion group is neo-Gothic in style and was built in 1866. Albert Birkle designed the three glass windows in the north-east and east windows in 1947.They depict the Holy Spirit’s activity, the Annunciation of Mary, the Presentation in the Temple, and Saint Blaise.Andreas Gartner built the church bell in 1680.

The church was designated as a parish church in 1811.It is now the parish church of Salzburg-St. Blasius and is part of the Salzburg City Deanery of the Archdiocese of Salzburg.

The classical high altar was built in 1785 to a design by Louis (Ludwig) Genier and constructed by Johann Högler. The central niche depicts the crucifixion scene with Mary and John, as well as the Ark of the Covenant with two adoring angels. Franz de Paula Hitzl created the paintings.

The exquisite late Gothic sacrament shrine, which most likely acted as a reliquary, is a very significant piece of art. It is created in the style of a filigree and artistically designed Gothic church, with a modest bay window and four figurative carved reliefs. The Master of Mauterndorf is credited with this gem. The miraculous image of Maria Plain is discovered in an altar niche in a wooden frame.

The altarpiece, painted by Josef Jaud in 1853, depicts St. Blasius on the western side altar of the north wall. The upper, earlier baroque painting depicts Saint Stephen.

The altarpiece on the north wall’s eastern side features a picture of Maria Immaculata by Franz Hellweger (painted in 1872) and a top depiction of St. Anne.

The southern side altar has an altarpiece of the Adoration of the Three Kings, painted by Paul Troger in 1746, and an above image of the repentant Maria Magdalena. The altar’s side sculptures show Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist. Josef Anton Pfaffinger designed them.

Albert Mauracher, an organ builder, created the instrument in 1894.The instrument has 18 registers spread across two manuals and one pedal.The playing and registration activities are automated.