“Did you know that St. Michaelis Kirche in Hildesheim is so significant that a blind girl legendarily regained her sight at Bishop Bernward’s tomb located in the crypt?” This church whispers tales of miracles and artistry.
Welcome to St. Michaelis Kirche. It is a key monument of medieval art. St. Michaelis Kirche stands as a testament to early-Romanesque architecture. It has earned its place on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985.
The story of St. Michaelis Kirche begins with Bishop Bernward. He was the tutor to Emperor Otto III. The Bishop commissioned the Benedictine monastery construction. It was to be built on a hill dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It was intentionally located just north of Hildesheim’s city walls.
Construction commenced in 1010. The monastery was dedicated to Archangel Michael in 1022. This occurred shortly before Bernward’s death. Bernward’s influence extended to the building’s layout and physicality. He was also skilled in bronze casting, painting, and metalwork. He developed these skills as Otto III’s tutor. His Romanesque style shaped the church’s unique character.
Bishop Godehard, Bernward’s successor, completed the construction in 1031. He reconsecrated St. Michaelis Kirche to Michael. After completion in 1033, Godehard moved Bernward’s remains to the abbey crypt.
St. Michaelis Kirche has two other sanctuaries. They are dedicated to Martin and the Holy Cross. They lie in the cloister extending northward from St. Michael’s north flank.
In 1186, Bishop Adelog of Dorstedt reconsecrated St. Michaelis Kirche after a fire reconstruction. During the Reformation around 1542, Lutherans gained control. They left little for the monastic body. Much of the church suffered damage. Modern technology helped rebuild it to its former glory.
A British air raid heavily damaged St. Michaelis Kirche on March 22, 1945. Reconstruction started in 1950. It was completed in 1957.
St. Michaelis Kirche has a double-choir basilica design. There are two tripartite transepts. They are at either end of the nave. A square tower sits at each crossing. Four other tall, narrow towers attach to the transepts. The eastern choir had three apses. The west choir had a single apse. It rises over a cross-vaulted crypt.
Nikolaus Pevsner called St. Michaelis Kirche the earliest surviving example of a truly Romanesque exterior. The ground plan follows a geometrical design. The square of the transept crossing serves as the key measuring unit.
The church’s ceiling displays a painting. It is 27.6 m long and 8.7 m wide. It depicts the Tree of Jesse. This artwork, created around 1130, uses over 1,300 oak planks. It underwent significant restoration in 2010.
The Bernward Doors feature bronze reliefs. They show scenes from the Bible. Bishop Bernward commissioned them for St. Michaelis Kirche. They now reside at Hildesheim Cathedral.
St. Michaelis Kirche stands on St. Michael’s Hill. The main entrance is on the south side. Magdalenengarten, a baroque park, lies close to the church’s west.
Today, St. Michaelis Kirche is a shared space. Protestant and Catholic Christians use it together.
Standing here, remember Bishop Bernward’s vision. Consider the artisans’ dedication. Reflect on the blend of faith and art that defines St. Michaelis Kirche.