Relikwie „Undecim Milium Virginum” w pocysterskim kościele w Lądzie nad Wartą i dedykowany im ołtarz-relikwiarz św. Urszuli

Abstract

In 1182, there arrived at the Cistercian abbey in Altenberg near Cologne many Undecim Milium Virginum relics from the so-called “ager Ursulanus” ‒ a late ancient cemetery discovered in 1106 under the walls of the colony, which was considered to be the burial site of St Ursula and her accompanying retinue. The abbey in Altenberg sent Undecim Milium Virginum relics to other Cistercian abbeys all over Europe propagating their cult in the monasteries. The cult of the Undecim Milium Virginum in Ląd dates back to the very beginning of the abbey, that is the 12th century. In the middle of the 13th century, Ląd received from Altenberg the relics of the virgin martyrs of Cologne, which are still in the Ląd abbey. In 1721, Abbot Antoni Mikołaj Łukomski founded a monumental reliquary altar dedicated to St Ursula and her companions. The altar was made in the workshop of Ernest Broger in Glogau/Głogow. It is the largest of altars dedicated to St. Ursula. The relics of skulls and bones placed in the altar are covered with embroidered fabrics dating back to the 19th century. At that time, the altar underwent a major renovation. The renovation of its fabrics carried out in 1983 revealed that under the textiles from the 19th century the remains of medieval and baroque fabrics had been preserved.