St. Michaels Kirche

CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL The Church of St. Michael was built outside the city walls on the so-called Rindermarkt on the left bank of the Isel. It apparently had no clear function, but primarily served to provide a place of prayer and contemplation for the population living here. The building was first mentioned in 1308, but it is believed that the church is much older. During excavations in 1982, a slightly shorter church with a round apse was found, which is dated to the second half of the 13th century. Rebuilt in Gothic style During the last heyday under the rule of the Counts of Görz, several churches were rebuilt in the Gothic style. These reconstruction works – as in the Church of St. Michael – usually began with the choir. A significant member at the court of the Counts of Görz was Virgil von Graben, who continued to look after the city of Lienz after the ruling dynasty died out. He was convinced that “one can only take one's good deeds into the afterlife,” and was buried in St. Michael. The tombstone of Virgil von Graben and other family members can still be found here today. Secco painting in the vault In 1981, the church was restored. During this process, secco paintings in the vault and frescoes on the outer wall were uncovered. In contrast to painting affresco, secco painting is not done on fresh, still wet lime plaster, but on already dry plaster or dry masonry. In the center of the altar are three large statues of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Raphael holds a fish in his hand, Gabriel a lily. In the middle stands the patron saint of the church, Michael. In the arch above his head, we read the words “Quid es ut Deus,” the Latin translation of the Hebrew word “mi-cha-el,” which means: “Who is like God?” Biblical panels At the foot of the altar are two biblical panels. On the left, an angel is depicted encouraging the maid Hagar and showing her the way to a water source in the desert (Gen 16, 7-17). On the right, Abraham is depicted, wanting to sacrifice his son Isaac to prove his loyalty to God. But an angel of God stops him from killing his son and points to a ram that he should sacrifice instead. Contact:Pfarre Lienz St. Andrä, T. +43 4852 62160https://www.pfarre-st-andrae.at/kirchen/st-michaelskirche/