Restoration of the Schlehdorfer catacomb saints: new splendor for dusty relics

The restoration work in the Schlehdorf parish church of St. Tertulin is making progress.

There these days the protective covers of the two graves on the side altars of the church were removed to remove the dust of time from the two "catacomb saints" Saint Marcus and Saint Constantine.

Schlehdorf -

These graves are special.

According to Wikipedia, catacomb saints are the relics of unknown people from the time of early Christianity.

Their bones were removed in large numbers from the catacombs in Rome between the 16th and 19th centuries, according to the free Internet encyclopedia.

Typically, such relics were later richly decorated with gold, precious stones and embroidery.

The authenticity of a relic was confirmed at that time by a certificate signed by the bishop, which was then placed in a corner inside the tomb.

The origin of the Schlehdorfer relics can no longer be unequivocally traced

This is not the case with Schlehdorfer relics.

The Schlehdorf pastor, Simon Tyrolt, knows that their origin can no longer be traced beyond doubt.

Regardless of this, the ancient relics were presented for veneration, as they build a bridge to the time of the early Church for many believers.

For this purpose, a cloth with printed vine leaves was attached to the upper area of ​​the grave in the 19th century.

Many churchgoers in Schlehdorf remember that the blind was pulled up on Sundays and public holidays, while on working days it covered the view of the relics.

The dust of the centuries is already gone

The two Schlehdorf catacomb saints are now almost "freed from the dust of the centuries," says Pastor Tyrolt.

The restorers meticulously took care of the figures.

The pastor is impressed by the construction progress.

“All workers are pushing the pace,” he says.

You realize that you want to finish the construction site after it had taken a long time at first.

Pastor Tyrolt is involved in all regular construction meetings and appreciates the “very good cooperation” with the state building authority in Weilheim.

As is well known, the authority is responsible for the extensive renovation, as the church has been state-owned since secularization.

Peter Aumann, as the responsible division manager at the building authority, reports on the progress of the work on request: “The shell is largely finished, as is the stucco marble on the side altars, where the corresponding paintings are still installed.” Currently, work is being done on the high altar painting as well as on the plastering and on the retouching of the base area.

Restoration of the parish church costs around 7.5 million euros

The laying of electrical cables in the sacristy and in the church floor is one of the outstanding works.

"There induction loops are laid for those who wear hearing aids," says Pastor Tyrolt.

"This is a great thing for the older churchgoers who rely on hearing aids."

Also on the plan of the building authority are, among other things, the renewal and conversion of the staircase to the gallery, the renovation of the external staircase, the re-commissioning of the organ and the liturgical furnishings of the chancel.

The amount of the total costs was recently given as 7.5 million euros.

The responsible archdiocese of Munich and Freising is contributing a lump sum of one million euros.

The reopening of St. Tertulin is scheduled for autumn 2021.

Read more news from Schlehdorf & the surrounding area here.