Little curch of St. Zyprian
Place: St. Zyprian -Tiers
This church is a
structure from the late Romanesque period with a semicircular apse. It was probably built in the 13th century, just like St. Georg parish church. At that time, this church was listed next to the parish church as a daughter church of the Völs parish. In 1583, it was renovated by the baron of Völs-Colonna. Instead of the old wooden roof, a vault was inserted and the windows were widened. An inscription at the altar mentions the original construction date, but at that time the building of semicircular apses was not common anymore. It is probable that the altar mount was built at that time. This structure is historically valuable. Its middle section depicts Cyprian and
Justina, the patron saint of the church. The statue of Mary from the 16th century and several other statues were stolen in October 1964. During renovation activities in 1972, traces of
frescoes at the triumphal arch and the side walls were uncovered. These probably date back to the 16th century. The southern outer wall shows a slightly restored painting from the 17th century, which depicts the miraculous rescue of Platzliner meadows. Through ominous, black clouds God, the Father, hurls lightning bolts at the valley. But Cyprian and Justina cover the meadows and the grazing herds protectively with their coats.
St. Cyprian was the Bishop of Antioch and a martyr (around 304). According to legend, he had been a wizard, who tried to seduce the Christian virgin Justina and instead was converted. We know of this legend through the 5th century poem written by the Roman Empress Eudocia. This poem inspired Calderón to write his religious drama "El màgico prodigioso".
According to the legend, St. Cyprian consisted of many more houses than it has today. Invading moors and later the plague had depopulated the upper part of the valley. It is said that there used to be many old houses on the Traunwiesen (Traun meadows), where today there are only a few sheds. At that time, there were as many as 24 pairs of virgins who walked over the Kerschbaumer bridge during the Corpus Christi procession.
According to tradition, St. Cyprian is the oldest parish church of the valley. It sits in a charming location right at the entrance to the village of St. Zyprian.
Entrance: In the summer (July/August) during the Holy Mass on Sundays at 6.30 pm.
Churches & Chapels in the Rosengarten-Latemar Region
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