Regarding the Schottenportal, what stories do these stones whisper? The Scots Monastery, or Schottenkirche St. Jakob, stands as a testament to Regensburg’s rich and complex history. It began around 1070 with the arrival of Irish monks. They were called Marianus, Candidus, and Johannes.
These Irish monks were known as Scotti, Gaels in Middle Latin. The term Schottenstift reflects this Irish origin. Construction of the abbey began around 1100. The city walls expanded around 1300 making St. James part of the fortified city.
The Church of St. James was dedicated in 1120. It was a three-aisled basilica. Abbot Gregor expanded the church around 1150. The second church, which stands today, was completed by 1185.
Regensburg became a vital center for Irish missionary work. The Scots Monastery in Vienna is one of its daughter foundations. The monastery had close ties with the monastic school at Cashel in Ireland.
In 1577, a papal bull transferred the monastery to Scottish monks. Ninian Winzet, an opponent of John Knox, was the first Scottish abbot. Mary Queen of Scots tasked Abbot Winzet with training priests for missionary work in Scotland. The first priests were sent in 1623.
The monastery avoided dissolution during the Napoleonic period. In 1820, it became a priory. Monks remained until 1862. Then, the Bavarian government transformed it into a seminary.
The abbey complex included the church and the cloister. Fires in 1278 and 1546 destroyed the cloister. It was rebuilt between 1866 and 1872.
The first abbey church was built in the 11th century. Only its eastern end survives. A new church was constructed between 1175 and 1180. It features Romanesque architecture with three aisles and towers.
The nave is separated from the aisles by cylindrical pillars. Their capitals display Romanesque sculptures. Figures of wild men, lions, and crocodiles adorn them.
Three wooden sculptures form a crucifixion scene. They originally stood on the altar. The apse was decorated in a Romanesque revival style between 1866 and 1872.
The north portal, the Schottenportal, is the church’s most famous feature. It is richly decorated with sculptures. The portal is divided into thirds. The tympanum portrays Christ flanked by Sts. James and John.
The left side of the portal is more elaborate than the right. The lowest zone features Mary with the Christ child. Reliefs depict human figures in harmony. The right side shows hostile beasts.
The middle level presents virtues on the left and vices on the right. The uppermost register depicts Christ with the apostles. The jambs are decorated with kneeling figures.
In 1999, work began to enclose the portal reliefs within a glass vestibule. It was completed in 2000.
The library housed manuscript treasures. Anselm Robertson, the last prior, transported many treasures to Fort Augustus. In 1992, the books were deposited in the National Library of Scotland.
One volume contains the earliest written Gaelic words in Scotland. Another holds a Scots translation from 1596. Today, St. Jakob’s continues to inspire. Its stones whisper tales of faith.