St. Cyriakus at Gernrode, Gernrode, Germany, 959 AD

Ottonian architecture flourished in the 10^th and 11^th centuries, drawing inspiration from Carolingian and Byzantine architecture. Ottonian architecture was first developed during the reign of Otto the Great (936-975) and lasted until the mid 11^th century. However, surviving examples of this style of architecture are still found in parts of Germany and Belgium. One of these well-preserved examples happens to be the convent church of St. Cyriakus at Gernrode.

St. Cyriakus at Gernrode located in Gernrode, Germany.

Margrave Gero, whom not only played an important role in the German expansion into Slavic islands, but also as an advisor to Emperor Otto I (Otto the Great), also had his essential role in the establishment of this abbey church. An abbey is defined as a monastery or convent occupied by a community of monks or nuns.

With his family rooted in Gernrode, Gero made a generous donation to found a convent in memory of his son, Siegfried, who had died heirless. The construction for this convent began in 959, likely to be originally dedicated to St. Mary and St. Peter. However, after Gero obtained the relics of an early 4^th century martyr Saint Cyriakus, in Rome around 950, and brought them to Gernrode in 963, the abbey church was re-christened as Saint Cyriakus.1

The church contained many details and inspirations from preceding early Christian basilicas in Rome, such as the Saint Lorenzo (579-590) and Sant’ Agnese (625-638); from which it imitated details such as its internal galleries and its system of alternating supports – piers and columns – in the nave which would be of great significance for the future. The church contained many details from Carolingian architecture in general. It adopted the Carolignian double-ended variation on the Roman basilica, featuring apses at the east and west ends of the church rather than just the east.

Plan of St. Cyriakus at Gernrode.

Section of St. Cyriakus at Gernrode.

As most Ottonian churches, the Cyriakus at Gernrode made generous use of the round arch, flat ceilings, and massive rectangular piers located between columns in a rectangular pattern. The central body of the church has a nave with two aisles lined by two towers, characteristics of Carolignian architecture. However, it displays novelties customary to that of Romanesque architecture such as the alternation of the pillars and columns, the semi-blind arcades in the gallery on the nave, and the column capitals decorated with acanthus leaves and human heads.2

Interior view of the convent facing the East.

 

Interior view of the convent facing the West.

Additions to the church were constructed in the 11^th and 12^th centuries; which included the west crypt, the galleries above the aisles, the taller western towers and the Westwork. Then, in the 12^th century, a shrine had been built at the eastern end of the south aisle. The church was completed with the building of the western apse in 1130.1

Today, in the small community of Gernrode, the abbey church of Saint Cyriakus plays an imperative role in the development of Ottonian architecture, evolving from the Carolingian style which has grown unpopular throughout the years. It is now part of the tourist route Romanesque Road, as an important example of an Ottonian church which later inspired, fully Romanesque, churches and cathedrals.3

                           

1 Aubrey, Dennis. "The Church of Saint Cyriakus in Gernrode (Jong-Soung Kimm)." Via Lucis Photography: Photography of Religious Architecture. N.p., 05 Jan. 2016. Web.

2 "Ottonian Architecture in the Early European Middle Ages - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Boundless, n.d. Web

3 Antz, Christian, Rose-Marie Knape, and Janos Stekovics. Strasse Der Romanik. Halle: Stekovics, 2001. Print.