Filialkirche Obere Fellach (St.Thomas)

The Obere Fellach branch church, located on the borders of the same-named district in the municipality of Villach, is dedicated to St. Thomas.Paolo Santonino reported on the consecration of a “nova ecclesia” in 1486.The parish of St. Martin includes the church.

The modest late-Gothic church has a three-bay nave and a retractable choir with a 1486 five-eighth note. The pyramidal roofed tower protrudes somewhat from the west facade.To the south-east is a one-bay cross-vaulted sacristy.The church is approached from the north by a porch and a Gothic doorway.The nave is covered by a Bohemian Platzl vault.

Christ and the Apostle Thomas are shown on the altarpiece of the high altar from the second third of the 17th century, with the figure of St. Florian in the upper portion.The Visitation of the Virgin Mary is depicted in a 1771 painting on the north side altar, and the apostle Bartholomew may be seen in the top image.

The southern side altar is a winged altar that was once the high altar and was built in 1520.The paintings on the fixed wings, which were created circa 1430 to 1440 by the Wiener or Wiener Neustädter studio around the master of the St. Lambrecht votive tablet, are older than the altar.The Kistler (carpenter) work was most likely completed in Villach sometime after 1486.The shrine houses Saints Nicholas and Thomas sculptures, which were most likely created at the Nikelsdorf workshop in the early 16th century.The paintings on the moveable inner wings depict the Annunciation, Christ’s Birth and Baptism, and John’s Beheading.The outer wings portray episodes from the Thomas tale, such as Thomas being sceptical, Thomas walking on iron spikes, martyrdom by spear, and Thomas offering the Lord’s Supper on Easter Day.Saints Ursula, Maria Magdalena, Margareta, and Barbara are painted on the fixed wings’ fronts.Saints George, Martin, Christopher, and Rochus are represented by half figures on the front of the predella.

The church also features a Christ Salvator figure carved in the Nikelsdorf workshop circa 1515, which was most likely used as an altarpiece in the past.In 1986, the 17th century organ was refurbished.