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, native_name_lang = German , image = Blasiikirche Mühlhausen (Thüringen).jpg , caption = Side view, facing southeast , pushpin map = Thuringia#Germany , pushpin label position = , map caption = , coordinates = , location =
Mühlhausen Mühlhausen () is a city in the north-west of Thuringia, Germany, north of Niederdorla, the country's geographical centre, north-west of Erfurt, east of Kassel and south-east of Göttingen. Mühlhausen was first mentioned in 967 and b ...
,
Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and la ...
, country = Germany , denomination =
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
, previous denomination = Roman Catholic , founded date = Middle Ages , founder =
Teutonic Knights The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...
, dedication = St. Blaise , people =
Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
, status =
Parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities ...
, functional status = Active , architectural type = Hall church , style = Gothic , years built = 13th to 14th century , spire quantity = 2 , bells = 3 , bell weight = about 5.5 t ''Divi Blasii'' is a Gothic church in the
Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and la ...
n town of
Mühlhausen Mühlhausen () is a city in the north-west of Thuringia, Germany, north of Niederdorla, the country's geographical centre, north-west of Erfurt, east of Kassel and south-east of Göttingen. Mühlhausen was first mentioned in 967 and b ...
, central Germany. Besides St Mary's, it is one of Mühlhausen's two principal churches. Divi Blasii is a three-
aisle An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, certain types of buildings, such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, parl ...
, cruciform
hall church A hall church is a church with a nave and aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was invented in the mid-19th century by Wilhelm Lübke, a pioneering German art historian. In contrast to an ar ...
, situated on the ''Untermarkt'' (Lower Market) in the historical centre of the town. The elaborately designed display façade with
tracery Tracery is an architectural device by which windows (or screens, panels, and vaults) are divided into sections of various proportions by stone ''bars'' or ''ribs'' of moulding. Most commonly, it refers to the stonework elements that support the ...
,
pinnacle A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was mainl ...
s and a wheel window on the north side is located on an old trade route. Today, Divi Blasii is the central parish church of the
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
parish of Mühlhausen within the Protestant Church in Central Germany.


History

The Teutonic Order began building this church around 1276. Predecessor buildings date back to the early 12th century. In 1556, the Teutonic Order left the church to a Lutheran congregation. It was named after
Saint Blaise Blaise of Sebaste ( hy, Սուրբ Վլասի, ''Surb Vlasi''; el, Ἅγιος Βλάσιος, ''Agios Vlasios''; ) was a physician and bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia (modern Sivas, Turkey) who is venerated as a Christian saint and ...
, and is thus also referred to as "St Blaise's", "St Blasius's" or "Blasius Church". Around 1600, the Latin name ''sanctus Blasius'' ("holy Blasius") was replaced by ''divus Blasius'' ("divine Blasius"), in the genitive '' cclesiadivi Blasii'' (" hurchof Blaise the Divine").
Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
was organist here from July 1707 to July 1708. The locals appreciated his talent. They commissioned a new organ built to his specifications. To mark the change of the city's council in 1708, he composed the festive
cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning o ...
'' Gott ist mein König'' ("God is my King") for performance in the two principal churches. The council paid for it to be printed and it is the only Bach cantata to survive in a print from his lifetime. With the introduction of the Prussian Union Agenda of 1817, the church became part of the
Prussian Union of Churches The Prussian Union of Churches (known under multiple other names) was a major Protestant church body which emerged in 1817 from a series of decrees by Frederick William III of Prussia that united both Lutheran and Reformed denominations in Pr ...
(EUK). Since secularisation, it has been the central church of the Protestant parish of Mühlhausen and a venue for concerts and art exhibitions.


Architecture

Divi Blasii is a
hall church A hall church is a church with a nave and aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was invented in the mid-19th century by Wilhelm Lübke, a pioneering German art historian. In contrast to an ar ...
with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height. In the north
transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building with ...
is a
tracery Tracery is an architectural device by which windows (or screens, panels, and vaults) are divided into sections of various proportions by stone ''bars'' or ''ribs'' of moulding. Most commonly, it refers to the stonework elements that support the ...
rose window, slightly smaller than that of Notre-Dame in Paris. Under the tracery rose, there is a
Wimperg In Gothic architecture, a wimperg is a gable-like crowning over portals and windows and is also called an ''ornamental gable''. Outside of immediate architecture, the wimperg is also found as a motif in Gothic carving. Etymology The word has ...
portal on the north exterior. The tracery rose, the Wimperg portal and the
choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...
polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed '' polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two t ...
– here especially the low plinth storey, the high windows and the roof
gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aest ...
s – clearly show influences from cathedral buildings in northern France. The nave and the choir polygon, built around 1276–82, form a cross-ribbed vault. Two keystones in the choir are decorated with an eagle and a lion, both signs of Christ's virtues. On the west side are two
octagon In geometry, an octagon (from the Greek ὀκτάγωνον ''oktágōnon'', "eight angles") is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon. A '' regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasiregular truncated square, t, wh ...
al, stone towers from a previous building dating from around 1245–65. The tower bases are characterised by Romanesque style elements. In the south-west tower, there is a bell from 1281. The towers have similarities with the two small towers of the neighbouring St Mary's Church. Both are out of plumb due to insufficient foundations. Access to the church today is via the west entrance. Above the west portal is a tympanum depicting the crucifixion of Christ. Blasiikirche Mühlhausen hinten.JPG, Side view, facing west Rosettenfenster Blasiikirche Mühlhausen.JPG, Rose window, looking south Chor Blasiikirche Mühlhausen.JPG, Interior view MLH Divi Blasii 02.jpg, The Schuke organ


Treasures

Inside the church, there are important gravestones from the 13th and 14th centuries, a late Gothic
pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...
,
epitaph An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
s from the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ide ...
period, an octagonal
baptismal font A baptismal font is an article of church furniture used for baptism. Aspersion and affusion fonts The fonts of many Christian denominations are for baptisms using a non-immersive method, such as aspersion (sprinkling) or affusion (pouring). ...
from 1596, and a
Luther Luther may refer to: People * Martin Luther (1483–1546), German monk credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation * Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), American minister and leader in the American civil rights movement * Luther (give ...
statue from 1903. Around 1543 and 1548, the interior's convertible altars were destroyed during the
iconoclasm Iconoclasm (from Greek: grc, εἰκών, lit=figure, icon, translit=eikṓn, label=none + grc, κλάω, lit=to break, translit=kláō, label=none)From grc, εἰκών + κλάω, lit=image-breaking. ''Iconoclasm'' may also be consid ...
. The high altar in the choir polygon has been largely preserved and shows the life of the Virgin Mary and depictions of saints. The choir and crossing are separated by a forged lattice from the
Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
period dating from around 1640. The choir also houses, among other things, a portrait of the former Mühlhausen
superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
and church hymn poet
Ludwig Helmbold Ludwig Helmbold, also spelled Ludwig Heimbold, (21 January 1532 – 8 April 1598) was a poet of Lutheran hymns. He is probably best known for his hymn " Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren", of which J. S. Bach used the fifth stanza for his canta ...
. On the choir walls are tombstones of ecclesiastical dignitaries. The choir windows date from 1310–1330 and depict St John the Baptist and St Blasius of Sebaste. The seven old choir windows were restored by the Linnemann workshop in Frankfurt around 1900, and Alexander Linnemann also redesigned six windows with figurative depictions. Documents on this can be found in the Linnemann archive. The Gothic arched windows of Divi Blasii are said to have served as a model for the architect Johann August Röbling (later John A. Roebling), who came from Mühlhausen and emigrated to the USA, when he designed the towers of the
Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River. ...
between the New York boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.


Organ

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
was organist of the church in 1707–1708. Although he did not stay in the town for long, the authorities recognised his musical abilities, and made him the consultant for rebuilding the organ. This involved replacing an old two-
manual Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual * Instruction manual (gaming) * Online help Other uses * Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ * Manual (band) * Manual transmission * Manual, a bicycle technique similar ...
instrument. Bach's specifications for the new organ have survived: he required three manuals, pedals, and 37 stops. The project was undertaken by the respected local organ builder
Johann Friedrich Wender Johann Friedrich Wender (baptized 6 December 1655 – 13 June 1729) was a German organ builder who had his workshop in Mühlhausen. Born in Dörna, Thuringia, Wender collaborated with Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July ...
. Wender's previous work included a two-manual instrument at the New Church in
Arnstadt Arnstadt () is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, on the river Gera about south of Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. Arnstadt is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia, and has a well-preserved historic centre with a partially preserved tow ...
(today known as the Bach Church), with which Bach was familiar as he was employed there before coming to Mühlhausen. The Mühlhausen organ was completed in 1709, by which time Bach had been succeeded as organist by his cousin Johann Friedrich Bach. However, there is evidence that Bach returned to the town to inaugurate the instrument. It has been suggested that one of his works, a version for three manuals and pedals of A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (catalogued as BWV 720), may have been written specially for it. Wender's organ of 1709 has not survived. However, the present instrument on the west gallery was built according to Bach's specifications.
Albert Schweitzer Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer (; 14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was an Alsatian-German/French polymath. He was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. A Lutheran minister, Schwei ...
, as an organist, Bach connoisseur and leading person in the
organ reform movement The Organ Reform Movement or ''Orgelbewegung'' (also called the Organ Revival Movement) was a mid-20th-century trend in pipe organ building, originating in Germany. The movement was most influential in the United States in the 1930s through 1970s, ...
, was involved in its planning, of which the stoplist designed by Bach especially for this church served as the basis. The new instrument was built by the Alexander Schuke organ building company in the 1950s as their ''opus'' 293, it was originally inaugurated in 1959 and again after a general overhaul on 14 September 2008. It is one of the few organs in the world to have been built according to a specific stoplist made by Bach. The instrument has three manuals and 42 stops; a few stops were added to Bach's design so that also the timbres of modern organ music can be played authentically.


Bells

Three valuable medieval large bells hang in the two west towers. The large bell in the north tower was cast in 1345. It weighs around 5½ tonnes and, like the smaller
mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different eleme ...
bell from 1448, is adorned with rare bell carvings of artistic and historical significance. The Sunday bell from 1281 is considered the oldest dated bell in Thuringia. Blasiikirche Mühlhausen Türme.JPG, The two spires, looking northeast Südturm Blasiikirche Mühlhausen.JPG, Southern spire turmsockel divi blasii mhl south.JPG, Detail of the southern spire socket MHL Divi Blasii Rosette.jpg, Rose window at the north
transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building with ...


Bibliography

* * * * *


References


External links

*
Information on the town's website
(in German) {{DEFAULTSORT:Divi Blasii, Muhlhausen Mühlhausen Muhlhausen Divi Gothic hall churches in Germany Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism Buildings and structures in Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis