When the year comes to an end, many people find inner contemplation. They reflect on the past year and reflect on plans, actions, encounters and experiences. In return, some visit a church or retire to a monastery for a few days. There, thoughts come to rest and new strength is gathered. One such place is the St. Marienstern monastery in Panschwitz-Kuckau (Upper Lusatia).
An ultra-modern heater is hidden behind the backrests, between the partitions and under the cement tiles.
Since it was founded in 1248, Cistercian women have lived and worked in the abbey. Until well into the 19th century, St. Marienstern was a powerful abbey — after all, the abbess was temporarily subject to up to 60 villages, including jurisdiction.
Even during GDR times, the monastery of St. Marienstern remained in existence, as a shareholder of the “church's own agriculture and forestry”, it was protected from closure and expropriation.
Even today, 20 nuns live, pray and work here after the Rule of Saint Benedict. And this is despite the fact that more and more people are leaving the two big churches!
The church — the heart of the monastery
The late-Gothic, three-nave church with its Baroque façade not only offers space for reflection. During inner contemplation, the eye wanders through the room again and again and delights in the many treasures from past centuries. This includes:
- The Gothic cross-ribbed vault with octagonal columns and ornate keystones
- the hussite window with mostly Bohemian stained glass from the 14th century
- the late Gothic winged altars from the 15th to 17th century
- the old choir stalls in the central nave from the 17th century
The new choir stalls of the monastery church blend harmoniously with the late Gothic interior of the church.
Modern choir stalls with cement tiles
The present has also taken hold. For example, the new choir stalls, in which the sisters pray and sing, were placed in the church in 2013. With its two curved half-trips, it is reminiscent of a cocoon. On the one hand, the sophisticated high-tech construction provides protection and warmth when the wind whistles through the old windows of the cold church. On the other hand, it extends the choir room in perspective and draws attention to the high altar. Thirdly, it supports acoustics when praying and singing.
View of the choir stalls and the high altar, a work of Bohemian Baroque (consecrated in 1751)
Interior designer Bianka Wenk chose as materials for the new choir stalls in St. Marienstern Abbey:
- reddish stained maple, which picks up the larch wood from the pews in the community room
- metal for doors and partitions with acoustic openings between seats
- cast by hand cement tiles on the ground
With the colors reed and red, interior designer Bianka Wenk matched the cement tiles from the Mosáico factory to the stain of the wood. The pattern of the tiles also complements the lasered leaf motifs of the choir stalls — a reminder of the garden of the St. Marienstern monastery. In the Mosáico factory showroom, you can get to know the original pattern.
The pattern of the cement tiles (reference number 239) belongs to the “Floral” motif group.
As pious as the sisters are, they have a secular effect through their work beyond the St. Marienstern monastery. They operate successful agriculture, forestry and social institutions. As a member of Christlich-Soziale Bildungswerk Sachsen e.V. Introduce Nutrition and Herb Center and are involved in the tourism work of Neisse — Nisa — Nysa Euroregion.
Earthly delights can also be found in St. Marienstern Abbey: They come from the monastery's own bakery — delicious breads, cakes and cookies that are known throughout the region.
If you would like to take a break from everyday life for a longer period of time, you can find Monastery guest house contemporary, comfortable accommodation. Then you are invited to attend all prayer times in church and listen to the sisters singing and praying in the modern choir stalls with cement tiles.