Fischingen Abbey (Kloster Fischingen), now Fischingen Priory, is a
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monastery situated in
Fischingen
Fischingen is a municipality in the district of Münchwilen in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.
History
Fischingen is first mentioned in 1328 as ''Fischinon''. In 1972, Dussnang, Fischingen, Oberwangen and Tannegg merged with Fischinge ...
in the
Canton of Thurgau,
Switzerland, on the upper reaches of the
Murg, a tributary of the
Thur. It was founded in 1138, dissolved in 1848 and re-founded as a priory in 1977.
__TOC__
History
The abbey was founded in 1138 by Ulrich II,
Bishop of Constanz as a private episcopal monastery, with the intention that it should offer shelter and hospitality to pilgrims on their way from
Constanz
Konstanz (, , locally: ; also written as Constance in English) is a university city with approximately 83,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south of Germany. The city houses the University of Konstanz and was th ...
to
Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln Abbey (german: Kloster Einsiedeln) is a Benedictine Catholic monastery in the village of Einsiedeln in the canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. The abbey is dedicated to Our Lady of the Hermits, in recognition of Meinrad of Einsiedeln, a he ...
.
The hermit Gebino was appointed the first abbot. In only six years he had had built a bell tower, accommodation for both monks and nuns, and a guesthouse. At its high point in about 1210, Fischingen had about 150 monks and 120 nuns. The ''"
Vogtei"'' (protective lordship) over the abbey belonged to the
Counts of Toggenburg
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
. Saint
Idda of Toggenburg, who lived in a cell of the abbey in about 1200, is buried in a chapel off the abbey church.
From 1460 the abbey was under the authority of the administration of
Thurgau
Thurgau (; french: Thurgovie; it, Turgovia), anglicized as Thurgovia, more formally the Canton of Thurgau, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of five districts and its capital is Frauenfeld.
Thurgau is par ...
in the
Old Swiss Confederacy.
During the
Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
, the abbey was dissolved for several years, when in 1526 the abbot and the four remaining monks converted to the
Reformed beliefs. The abbey was reopened however on the initiative of the
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
townships of the
Old Swiss Confederacy.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the premises were rebuilt in the
Baroque and
Rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
styles. Between 1685 and 1687 a new abbey church was constructed, and in 1705 a new chapel dedicated to Saint Idda. In the 18th century part of the monastic premises was rebuilt, but could not be completed because of the abbey's accumulated debts.
Fischingen Abbey was dissolved on 27 June 1848 by the Grand Council of Thurgau.
1852-1977: dissolution and abuse allegations
The abbey premises were sold in 1852 to a textile factory. Later a business and trade school was set up here. In 1879 the buildings were acquired by the Catholic voluntary society ''"Verein St. Iddazell"'', who established in them the St. Iddazell orphanage. During this time, several cases of abuse have been uncovered which include physical, sexual and psychological abuse during the 1950s up to the 1970s.
A commission was installed, which produced a report in 2014 that largely confirmed the accusations and identified lack of oversight by the authorities as a major contributing factor to the abuse.
The report also uncovered that students were used as test subjects for non-approved drugs without
informed consent and without proper approval by the authorities at the psychiatric hospital in Münsterlingen, experiments which were led by
Roland Kuhn.
[Simone Rau]
''Das Ausmass der Medi-Versuche in Münsterlingen ist weit grösser.''
In: ''Der Bund
''Der Bund'' (English: ''The Union'') is a Swiss German-language daily newspaper published in Bern.
Established in 1850 and associated with the cause of liberalism, it was among the leading quality newspapers in Switzerland for much of the 19t ...
'', 31. Oktober 2016.
The canton of Thurgau issued an official apology for the abuse in 2014.
After the repeal in 1973 of the so-called "Article of exception" (''"Ausnahmeartikel"'') in the Swiss constitution, which forbade the opening of new monasteries and the re-establishment of old ones, Fischingen was reopened as an independent priory in its former premises in 1977.
In 1602 Fischingen joined the then newly established
Swiss Congregation
The Swiss Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation is a grouping of Benedictine monasteries in Switzerland or with significant historical Swiss connections.
Foundation
The Congregation was founded, at the urging of the Papal legate to Switz ...
, now part of the
Benedictine Confederation, and re-joined on its re-foundation in 1977.
Today
Several Benedictine monks now reside again in the main building, which is also a hotel which specialises in seminars.
Guided tours are available for the main building, a restaurant is also open to non-residents.
A unique feature in the church is an ancient stone sarcophagus with small opening in base into which the faithful put their feet while making peace with their Maker.
In 2015, the abbey added a brewery (Brauerei Kloster Fischingen), located in an outbuilding. Their bottled ales are available in the restaurant.
References
External links
Fischingen Abbey website
*
Photo of monastic buildings
{{Authority control
Benedictine monasteries in Switzerland
Buildings and structures in Thurgau
1138 establishments in Europe
1848 disestablishments in Switzerland
Christian organizations established in 1977
Religious organizations established in the 1130s
Christian monasteries established in the 12th century
Tourist attractions in Thurgau
1977 establishments in Switzerland
12th-century establishments in Switzerland