Säben Abbey

Since 1687 the Säben (formerly Castle Saeben ) a Benedictine abbey on Säbener mountain in South Tyrol, which was based first of nuns of the Salzburg Nonnberges, and is still inhabited by cloistered nuns. The consecration of the monastery church was made by Prince-Bishop Johann Franz Graf Khuen of Belasi.

On the Säbener mountain there are four churches, Holy Cross Church, St. Mary's chapel, the abbey church and the Church of Our Lady, whose eight- Marie Life Pictures has created in the ceiling painting of the Tyrolean Baroque painter Stephan Kessler.

History

Saeben (Latin Sabiona ), located on the holy mountain above Klausen, was inhabited in the Neolithic period, at the site of the present monastery was formerly a late Roman settlement. It was also the center from which the Christian faith was spread throughout South Tyrol, see Archaeological finds on Säben.

From the 6th century to about 960 was here a bishopric, which included the built and excavated in the early 5th century church in the vineyard and a large burial ground. Documentary evidence is Bishop Ingenuin 579 as a participant in the Synod of Grado. The Holy Ingenuin is buried in the Holy Cross Church. In the former bishop's seat, the titular Sebana goes back.

On September 13, 901 King Louis IV gave the Bishop Zacharias farmstead Prichsna, should arise from the later Brixen.

The bishop's seat was moved at least 960 under Bishop Rich Bert to Brixen. After that remained Saeben an episcopal fortress. In the 14th and 15th century the castle was the seat of the judge Säben of Klausen and administrative center of the southernmost areas of the diocese of Brixen.

At the instigation of canon, city and hospital chaplain Matthias Jenner the first nuns arrived in 1685 three Choir, female and two lay sisters from the Nonnberg in Salzburg to Saeben to the newly built monastery of the Holy Cross on Saeben to revive. The founding charter of the Prince-Bishop Johann Franz von Kuen, 21 November 1686 confirmed the establishment of the newly built monastery. 1699 the monastery was an abbey and chosen Mary Agnes Zeillerin to the first abbess.

In 1974 the monastery was included in the Beuronese Congregation. The contemplative Benedictine nuns live in strict enclosure, and enjoying the choral prayer and domestic work, but also take care of pilgrims and take in the summer guests to the guest house.

From 1970 to 1996, originally from the Abbey Herstelle sister Marcellina Pustet served as tenth abbess the community. 1996 Sr. Maria Ancilla Hohenegger was ordained to the eleventh abbess of the monastery.

Personalities

• Lukan of Saeben, legendary Bishop of Saeben and Holy