As of: March 27, 2024, 10:50 a.m
By: Alexander Kraus
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The Christ is back: Martin Ostler restored the carved figure - and for free.
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Two locals have made outstanding contributions to the cross on the Jägersteig to Kreuzeck: Johann Ostler has been looking after the cross for decades, and Martin Ostler restored the figure for free.
Hammersbach
– After almost half a year, the Baschner Cross on the Jägersteig above Hammersbach is complete again.
The Jesus figure that was damaged last September is back in its original place.
Unknown people had torn the Christ's head from his body, probably in an attempt to steal the figure.
Johann Ostler looks contentedly again at the wooden cross on the way towards Kreuzeck.
The 69-year-old is particularly grateful to his old mountain comrade Martin Ostler (74), who even carried out the repairs on the figure free of charge.
“The cross should be preserved,” emphasizes Johann Ostler.
It's important to him.
For years, the Obergrain native, who has lived in Hammersbach since 1975, has been making sure that this symbol of the Christian faith looks good.
His interest in the Baschner Cross has its background.
Johann Ritz, his wife's grandfather, was a local carpenter in the mid-1950s and set up the Marterl in the cattle pasture.
The cross, which still hides a Marian grotto in its concrete base, gradually fell into disrepair.
Ostler couldn't watch it.
He took on the renovation.
He had the carved Christ, which he estimates to be around 120 years old, restored and repainted.
He repaired the wooden cross himself.
In 2001 he brought the copy back to its place, where it shone in new splendor.
The hobby carver was all the more sad when he learned in September 2023 that unknown people had literally beheaded the Lord God.
His son noticed the crime while cycling.
A blessing in disguise: the head of the badly damaged figure reappeared a few days later.
Hikers found him in the forest and dropped him off at the Hammersbacher Hotel.
Ostler became active again.
And again the cross was prepared.
A fact that Pastor Josef Konitzer is also happy about.
He appreciates the commitment of the two Ostlers to the symbol.
“It's great to see what a meaning such a cross can have for people.” He is happy about this great commitment.
“It is great that the condition of the cross has been restored and that it has meaning again.” The priest promised at the time that he would say the blessing in person.
But there has been no contact yet, the ceremony is still pending.