Moosburg - St. Kastulus

End of the 8th century a monastery existed here, owning the relics of Saint Kastulus, that had been "translated" to Moosburg from Rome. This monastery was converted into a collegiate, after the last Benedictian monks had moved to Weihenstephan Abbey in 1021. After the old abbey church had collapsed the erection of a new church started in 1170.

This was done under the guidance of Albert I. (aka Adalbert I.), the Bishop of Freising and so there are many parallels between these two large structures. The Freising Cathedral was the first large brick building in Bavaria (after the Romans had left) - and St. Kastulus in Moosburg was the second.

The western portal of St. Kastulus, known as "Adalbert-Portal", was carved before 1212. It was made from the same sandstones as the little older portal of the Scots Monastery in Regensburg - and the carvers probably knew that masterpiece. According to Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") this portal in Moosburg is one of the greatest works of Romanesque art in Bavaria.


A "Christ in Majesty" seated on a throne in a blessing gesture between Alpha and Omega. He is flanked by four persons, that are "named". From left

- HAINRICUS IMP(er)ATOR = Henry II (Heinrich II), Holy Roman Emperor. His father was Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, called "the wrangler".
Henry II enabled the conversion from a Benedictian monastery to a noble Collegiate in 1021, so what he is holding is probably the charter.

- SCA (SAN) THEOTOKOS (Greek letters) = God-Bearer = Virgin Mary.

- CASTVLVS MARTYR = Saint Castulus, martyred in the 3. century. His relics are in this church, he is the patron saint of Moosbach. As a martyr he holds a palm leaf.

- ADELBERTVS EP(iscopu)C = Bishop of Freising Adalbert I, he is on his knees offering a model of this church.

I could not decipher/translate the two long lines below. Have a try!