SANKT PETER AND NONNBERG. — These are the two oldest Benedictine abbeys in the entire German territory, both founded by St. Ruperto around 690–95 at Iuvavum, Salzburg (v.); S. P. for monks, now an archabbey, and N. for nuns.
This twin foundation is inseparable, historically and spiritually. In the founder’s mind, the women’s monastery was to help sustain the monks’ work of culture and civilization, as it did also at a later time. Both followed the Rule of St. Benedict, at least from the 8th century.
I. SANKT PETER — In accordance with the custom of the time, the abbot was also bishop of the diocese from 739. His election as abbot belonged to the monastic Chapter. The possessions, too, were held in common. The first monastery, with its church, was situated immediately below the cliffs of the mountain on which the future castle (Hohensalzburg) would stand, under the protection of the nearby « castellum superior », which became the residence of the nuns. Within those cliffs are the so-called « catacombs », natural caves, partly enlarged artificially, believed to have been the refuge of the first Christians and indeed the place of the martyrdom of the supposed s. Massimo. Some connection of continuity with the Christianity of the Roman period, however, may have existed. In 684 the archbishopric was separated from the abbey; in 1039 the election of the archbishop, who had also become a prince of the Empire, passed to the Cathedral Chapter. Corrado II
(1106-47), prince archbishop, built his own residence near the Cathedral, leaving the old one to the monks as a monastery; under him, another monastery for nuns was also erected beside it, lasting until 1583.
The abbey of S. P. had its own scriptorium, flourishing especially in the 8th-9th and 11th-12th centuries, and remained for the city and the archdiocese a continual source of spiritual life. From 1617, with the gymnasium, and especially from 1623, with the University, the Benedictines dominated the culture of the country. From 1641 to 1808 S. P. was also the seat of the Salzburg Benedictine Congregation. The suppressions at the end of the 18th century left the abbey undisturbed; the closing of the University (1810) and the suppression of its own Congregation (1808), however, limited its influence. It nevertheless always remained the most eminent intellectual and cultural centre. Abbot W. Hauthaler (1901-22), a celebrated historian and scholar, gave a strong impulse to the monastery’s external and internal life. In 1923-25 a new wing was built for the « Collegium Benedictinum », a kind of boarding establishment for young Benedictine monks attending the Theological and Philosophical Faculties of Salzburg. The grandiose Crucifix in the atrium, by J. Adlhart, is much admired. In 1927 S. P. was raised to the rank of archabbey. It is the seat of the Austrian Liturgical Institute, under the patronage of the episcopate; the Liturgical Commission is also associated with II. The abbey church is known for its classical performances of the liturgy, often broadcast by radio. Benedictines constitute the majority of the professors in the two Faculties of the emerging Catholic University.
Art. — S. P. is a remarkable complex of buildings and courtyards, with fountains, chapels, and monuments, which arose over the course of the centuries. The primitive church (situated directly below the cliffs) was fairly soon transferred to its present, safer location. After the fire of 1127 it was rebuilt in 1130-43 in the Romanesque style. It follows the Saxon type, with three naves and a large choir divided by the « lectorium ». In 1622 a transept was erected, with a cupola raised in 1757, when the upper part of the Romanesque bell tower (70 m. high) was rebuilt. Subsequently (1758-83), the decoration of the interior began according to the artistic taste of the time, in a kind of rococo style (B. Zöpfl), while the Romanesque structure of the building was left intact. The paintings on the 16 altars, all dating from the same period, are by J. M. Schmidt (« Kremerschmidt »). Noteworthy is the still-Romanesque atrium, with its rococo portal and monumental grille (1768) by Ph. Hinterascher. One side altar preserves a statue in artificial stone (Steinguss) from the first half of the 15th century, a typical Salzburg product (Maria Säul). The church also contains the tomb of s. Vitale, a major sculpture by Master Hans (1497), and the memorial tomb of s. Ruperto (1444), with an altar (1741). Only part of the ancient cloister remains, together with the chapel of s. Vito (1391).
The cemetery of S. P., surrounded by a circuit of arcades (1626) and containing a great number of monuments in every style and from every period, is very well known. It contains the chapels of the Holy Cross, on the site of the primitive church and rebuilt in 1710; the Romanesque chapel of S. Caterina; the Gothic chapel of S. Margherita (1485-91); and, in the so-called catacombs, the chapels of s. Geltrude (1178), of s. Massimo, and of s. Egidio, on the spot where s. Ruperto is said to have prayed. The monastery preserves the great Library (more than 80,000 volumes) and the valuable Archive, with many parchments and illuminated codices. From the abbey’s school of illumination come the Psalter known as that of s. Erentrude (now in Munich), from the 12th century; the proper Antiphonary of S. P. (about 1150); and the Bible known as that of Erlangen, after the place where it is preserved. Especially noteworthy is the - Salzburger Verbrüderungsbuch v begun in the 8th century for the communication of prayers and good works, with thousands of entries. There is also the Treasury, with highly valuable objects dating as far back as the 11th century—Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque vestments—a collection of medals, and other art collections.
II. NONNBERG
Dedicated to St. Mary and St. Erentrude, it stands on the site of the castellum superius, donated by Duke Teodone to St. Rupert, on the hill now called N. St. Rupert placed his kinswoman St. Erentrude at the head of the new foundation. The endowment soon grew considerably through donations from emperors, princes, and nobles. N. was always a true beacon of light on account of its schools for women. The abbess, also given the monastery’s economic importance, had a seat and a voice alongside the prelates in the Diet of the archiepiscopal principality, and obtained (1242) the right to the pontifical insignia: faldstool, pastoral staff, and princely crown, which are still preserved. Until the 18th century, only noblewomen were admitted to N. Other women’s abbeys were also founded or reformed from this abbey.Today N. forms an irregular, but exceedingly picturesque, complex on the southwestern hill of the city. During the 11th century, the church and convent were rebuilt: in the Romanesque crypt stands the mausoleum of St. Erentrude and St. Regintrude. After a fire (1423), the church and monastery were rebuilt in Gothic forms, while preserving a few Romanesque remains. The present crypt is Gothic, the last great crypt built beyond the Alps. The church contains many Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque works of art; the frescoes in the former nuns’ choir, dating from around 1150, are famous. The Baroque period brought alterations to the entire architectural complex.
The rarest piece in the Treasury is the faldstool of 1242, made of ivory, gold, and filigree, with traces of painting, which has no counterpart; the associated ivory pastoral staff and other pastoral staffs, precious reliquaries, sculptures, tapestries, etc. The convent still preserves a 13th-century Crucifix; then the magnificent 14th-century Crucifix from the old cathedral of Salzburg, of astonishing expressiveness; a Gothic altar of 1460, also from the old Cathedral; and remains of a large altar, or perhaps of one by the sculptor Veit Stoss (late 15th century). - Vedi tav. CXIV.