Gothem Church

The Church of Gothem (Swedish Gothem kyrka ) is a country church, which belongs to the parish ( swedish församling ) Gothem on the Swedish island of Gotland. You 27 km east of Visby near the east coast of the island.

Church building

The church is one of the grandest churches on Gotland. The oldest parts of the choir with apse and sacristy date from the early 13th century. The tower was begun in the late 13th century and mid 14th century, completed by the master stone " Egypticus ", who also created the church towers in Dalhem, Öja, Rone and strands will. Mid-20th century the tower was destroyed by lightning and later rebuilt lower back slightly altered form and five meters.

Outside the church are the ruins of a fortified tower dating from the late 12th century. Adjacent is the portal of the medieval parsonage.

Church from the outside

Page portal

Portal of the medieval vicarage

Church seen through the portal of the medieval vicarage

Interior

The interior is richly decorated with murals from the 14th century. A German artist has a frieze painted, after which you can see pictures from the childhood of Jesus and of the Passion. 2006/2007 the church was restored inside. In this case, painted over frescoes were uncovered in the past. The most striking image found here shows the Pope, Jesus and Mohammed, which generated some attention in the media in connection with the caricature debate.

Under the church remains of an older stone church were found. In addition, the church stands on the remains of a fortified tower ruin from the 12th century.

The Bildstein

Before the altar of the church is a very large image of worn stone. The huge carved block was probably chosen because of its width and its smooth beaten face side. Remarkable is not his discovery location - in the Church of Väskinde are parts of a giant stone in the same place (height more than 355 cm) - but his image content. The images only fragmentary, different from everything that has come down from the rich variety of Bildstein art. On the stone you have one or more vessels represented, of which at least one patterned sail shows. Disc-shaped standing on cones objects under sail and on the slender trunk may find shields Represents the defective Flechtwerkmuster below indicates probably an agitated sea waves peaks at.

Pulpit of 1709

Choir stalls from the 14th century with the five wise virgins

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