Sankt Paul, Abbey of (Carinthia)
SANKT PAUL, ABBEY OF (CARINTHIA)
In Lavantal (Wolfsberg), Diocese of Klagenfurt, belonging to the Austrian congregation of benedictines. Count Siegfried of Spanheim, before he died on a pilgrimage, left instructions to found the monastery, which his son Engelbert settled with 12 monks from hirsau after 1090. The Palatinate Spanheimers came to Bavaria by marriage with the Aribonen, counts of the Chiemgau. Choir and crypt were consecrated in 1093 by Bl. thiemo of Salzburg. Abbots Peregrinus and Ulrich built the present beautiful Romanesque basilica (three naves, three apses, and transept) with massive walls (c. 1200). After a fire in 1367 Gothic vaulting was added with fantasy paintings by M. and F. pacher (1470–80). Baroque additions were made in the monastery (1618–83 and in 1744). The abbey was suppressed (1782–87) by joseph ii, but given in 1809 to refugee monks from sankt blasien, who brought MSS and treasures with them and reopened the school. In 1828 Sankt Paul helped establish the gymnasium and school of philosophy in the new abbey of St. Stephan in augsburg. Its members have included Latinists and scholars, one of whom was Beda Schroll, noted for his research in Carinthian history.
Bibliography: j. ploner, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 9:166.
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