Mardorf - St. Hubertus

Since 1971 Mardorf is part of Amöneburg, where St. Bonifatius founded a small "cella" in 721.

A "chapel" in Mardorf was first mentioned in 1266. This chapel was probably part of the village´s fortification. Today's Baroque church was erected between 1713 and 1722. The tower of the church is an older keep. In 1933 early Gothic murals were found here, dated to around 1270.

This is (for me) the most impressing murals in Mardorf. Depicted are scenes of the merciful deeds of St. Elizabeth.

Elizabeth of Hungary (German: Elisabeth von Thüringen) was married at the age of 14 to Ludwig IV (aka Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia), who was 17 at that time. She was widowed at 20 after her husband had died in Otranto on his way to Jerusalem ill of the plague.

After her husband's death she sent her children away and regained her dowry, using the money to build a hospital where she herself served the sick. She became a symbol of Christian charity after her death at the age of 24 and was canonized on 25 May 1235.

The last three years of her life Elizabeth had lived in Marburg (less than 15kms away). After her canonization her tomb developed into a main pilgrimage place in Germany.

This murals were created only a few decades after her death. They are a proof of the legendary popularity she had - and still has!