St. Sebastian

Nestled in the charming town of Ebersberg in Bavaria, Germany, St. Sebastian Church stands as a beacon of historical and architectural splendor. This Roman Catholic parish church, with its rich heritage and captivating design, offers visitors a glimpse into the past and a serene place for reflection and admiration.

The Historical Tapestry of St. Sebastian

The origins of St. Sebastian Church are intertwined with the history of the Ebersberg Monastery. It all began in 934 when the Counts of Ebersberg founded a small Augustinian monastery next to the Marien Chapel on the Ebersberg Castle grounds. The first provost, Hunfried, brought back a precious relic from Rome – the skullcap of St. Sebastian. This relic soon attracted pilgrims and offerings, leading to the completion of the pre-Romanesque collegiate church of St. Mary and St. Sebastian in 970.

In 1007, Count Ulrich transformed the monastery into a Benedictine abbey, gaining imperial immediacy. The 1220s saw the construction of the Romanesque abbey church, which forms the core of the present-day structure. Although a double-towered facade was planned, only the south tower was realized. After suffering fire damage, the church underwent restoration from 1305 to 1312, and the choir was expanded between 1450 and 1455. The 1480s marked the height of the monastery's spiritual and cultural significance, evidenced by the illuminated manuscripts from its library.

With the decline of the Benedictine convent during the Reformation, Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria handed the monastery over to the Jesuits in 1595. They revitalized the buildings after the Thirty Years' War and, between 1668 and 1671, transformed the upper sacristy on the north side of the choir into the Sebastian Chapel for relic veneration. The church itself was baroquified under the guidance of Johann Georg Ettenhofer in 1733/34.

Following the suppression of the Jesuit order in 1773, a monastery fire in 1781 severely damaged the church. Elector Karl Theodor entrusted the damaged complex to the Knights of Malta, who restored it with alterations, resulting in the current vaults, paintings, and tower dome. Since the secularization of 1808, St. Sebastian has served as the parish church. The original Ebersberg parish church, St. Valentin, was demolished, with parts of its furnishings transferred to St. Sebastian. The former convent buildings are now used for state and private purposes.

Architectural Marvels of St. Sebastian

St. Sebastian is a three-nave hall church oriented to the east. The relatively short nave, with only five bays, leads to a narrower, four-bay choir with a polygonal apse. On the north side of the choir, the rectangular Sebastian Chapel is attached. In the southwestern corner of the nave stands the square Romanesque bell tower with a distinctive Baroque dome.

The interior reflects the baroque style of the 18th century, with four distinct construction and furnishing phases. During the baroquification of 1733/34, the late Gothic columns were enveloped in Baroque style. The choir received its Rococo decoration in 1751/52, likely by the Zimmermann workshop, with parts of the stucco and ten wall frescoes still preserved. The Rococo decoration of the nave followed in 1764 by another workshop, with parts remaining in the side aisles and gallery area, including the ceiling fresco above the organ.

The 1781 fire caused the collapse of the Gothic vaults of the nave and choir. The new barrel vaults with stitch caps created during the reconstruction in the 1780s already show a classical style in form and decoration.

Artistic Treasures and Relics

Beyond its rich Baroque and Rococo furnishings, St. Sebastian houses significant artworks from earlier periods. These include the elaborate donor's tomb of Count Ulrich († 1029) and his wife Richardis from the 15th century, as well as remnants of an oversized St. Christopher fresco (circa 1500).

The nativity scene is the work of Sebastian Osterrieder, known as Krippenwastl. Parts of the Sebastian cycle from 1751/52 are still preserved in the choir. The ceiling paintings, created by Franz Seraph Kirzinger after the 1781 fire, thematically relate to the church's patron, Sebastian, and the Order of Malta.

The Enchanting Sebastian Chapel

The Sebastian Chapel, with its early Baroque furnishings from 1668-71, features rich wall and ceiling stucco and oil paintings embedded in the stucco decoration. Each of the chapel's three bays contains a stucco medallion with a monogram in the center of the ceiling: SBS (Sebastianus), IHS (Jesus), and MARIA. The stucco work is attributed to Michael Schmuzer and assistants, following the designs of the construction manager and Jesuit brother Heinrich Mayr.

The altar painting (Martyrdom of St. Sebastian) and the oil paintings embedded in the walls, depicting Jesus, God the Father, and Mary above the altar, are by an unknown artist. Opposite, two Jesuit saints are combined with three scenes from the life of the chapel's patron: St. Ignatius of Loyola - Martyrdom of St. Sebastian - St. Francis Xavier, and below: St. Irene and her companions tending to St. Sebastian's wounds - dedication inscription - St. Sebastian being clubbed to death. Three medallions in the lunettes of the west wall depict landscapes, with a view of Ebersberg in the center.

The true treasure lies in a glass shrine on the marble altar (1671), housing the silver bust reliquary of 1450 containing the skullcap of St. Sebastian. Large cabinets with glass doors next to the altar and on a side wall once held the pilgrims' votive offerings, now displaying reliquary altars and other church treasures.

In conclusion, St. Sebastian in Ebersberg is not just a church; it is a testament to centuries of faith, art, and history. Its walls echo the tales of devotion and resilience, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience the spiritual and cultural heritage of Bavaria.