Is it just me or does this chapel seem like a hidden gem nestled within Passau’s Dom St Stephan? The Kapelle, also known as the Andreaskapelle or Herrenkapelle, holds stories that stretch back centuries.
Let’s step back in time to the early 14th century. The Kapelle began as a burial site for Passau’s cathedral canons. This makes it one of Germany’s earliest hall chapels. In 1414, Dompropst Otto von Layming added the choir, which is also named Erasmuskapelle.
The Kapelle’s history took a dramatic turn during the city fire of 1662. As Passau rebuilt, the Andreaskapelle received a Baroque makeover. However, in 1841, it was remodeled in the Gothic style. Until 1960, the Kapelle was full of funerary monuments. A restoration in 1960 and 1961 saw most of these monuments moved to the Ortenburgkapelle and the Domhof.
As you look at the architecture, notice the three-aisle hall with nine bays. A small rectangular choir chapel completes the structure. The nave features a ribbed vault. The choir boasts a net vault, believed to be the oldest net-ribbed vault in East Bavaria. Four octagonal pillars support leaf wreaths from which the ribs of the steep vaults radiate.
Inside the Kapelle, your eyes are immediately drawn to a monumental Romanesque crucifix. Created around 1190 and influenced by the Mainfränkische style, it is known as “Der große Herrgott” which means “The Great Lord”. It originally belonged to the St Nikola Augustine Canons Monastery. It once served as a pilgrimage destination to the “great Lord God of Passau”. Since the early 15th century, the cross was venerated in the St Elisabeth Hospital Church. This church belonged to the St Nikola court. It stood near today’s train station. The French demolished it in 1809. Around 1850, the cross found a home in the neo-Gothic high altar of the Salvatorkirche. Since 1962, it has resided here in the Andreaskapelle.
Take a moment to observe the over-life-size late-Gothic stone figure of Salvator Mundi on the south wall. It dates back to around 1450. From the same late-Gothic period, there is a stone relief depicting Christ on the Mount of Olives. You can also see a relief plate featuring St. Valentine, St. Stephen, and a bishop, as well as a sandstone Madonna.
The Kapelle also houses funerary monuments from the 14th to 17th centuries. Bishop Albert Schönhofer’s tomb from 1493 is located in the Kapelle. It is close to the master of the Kefermarkt winged altar.
The Eisenbarth company built a two-manual organ in the Andreaskapelle in 1984 and 1985. Franz and Leopold Hafner designed the case. The prospectus shows the Apostle Andrew with the Andrew’s Cross and the fishing net.
Finally, note the modern stained-glass window in the choir by Robert Rabolt. It depicts six sacraments, but marriage is missing. The Andreaskapelle is a blend of history, art, and devotion. It is a place where daily services continue a tradition that has lasted for centuries.