Chapel of S. Helena
Place: Deutschnofen
The
richly adorned frescoes of St. Helena church, completed around 1400, are a major art project of the Bozen painting school. Art historians note that there is a close relationship between these paintings and the wall paintings in the parish church of Terlan and St. Katharina church in Völser Aicha. The
Niederthor court of arms in the triumphal arch gives a clue as to the origin of the paintings: This family may have placed an order for the paintings, as it did for the paintings in Terlan. The Niederthor emblems had been painted over for a long time. They were uncovered in 1885 and partly restored in 1938. The façade depicts St. Helena, St. Christopherus and a crucifixion scene. On the south wall, toward the apse (semicircular recess of the altar), you can see Mary with the child and the three holy virgins Katharina, Barbara and Margareth.
The vault frescoes in the aisle and nave of the church show the
four gospel writers with their symbols and one section from each of the gospels. The apse depicts Christ on His throne as the judge of the world, surrounded by the gospel writers' symbols. Below, we can see the row of the
twelve apostles, which was partly destroyed when the windows were broadened in a later renovation phase. The triumphal arch along the nave depicts the sacrifices of Cain and Able and at the wall facing the windows, we can see scenes from the
creation story. On the side walls of the aisle, paintings from the life of the Madonna and the childhood of Jesus had been uncovered: The annunciation, Elisabeth's visit to Mary, Mary and Joseph, the worship of the Magi, a temple scene, and the flight to Egypt. On the west wall, facing the altar, you can see St. Helena, St. Sebastian, an annunciation and the bishops Ulrich and Wolfgang.
The basic architectural features of the church are Romanesque and probably date back to the 12th century. The small, rough stone relief on the right outside façade stems from the 14th century. In 1410, after the paintings were completed, the church was rededicated. In 1500, the tower was outfitted with pointed arch windows, while the rounded-arch vault windows below were walled in. The altar mount was created in the first half of the 17th century; the altar painting was signed "J. G. Plazer 1723".
Legend has it that St. Helena was built on silver steps because there were ancient mines in the surroundings of the church. G. Innerebner records that the church hill belonged to an ancient settlement and served as a cult site.
Entrance: Should always be open. If not, go to Haus Kreuzhof next door to pick up the key.
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