Gandersheim - Abbey

The abbey in Gandersheim was founded by Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Ottonian dynasty in 852. the abbey was founded as a house of secular canonesses, unmarried daughters of the high nobility, and the first three abesses were daughters of Liudolf and his wife Oda. The first church on this place got consecrated here before 900.

The abbey existed upto 1810, though since 1568 the canonesses were lutherian. During the 10th century the "first female german poet", better "the first female artist using german language to create poetry" has lived here as a canoness: Hrosvita of Gandersheim.

Even after more than 1000 years, Hrosvita is still very well remembered by Amazon:
www.amazon.de/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hrotsvit+von+gander...

Gandersheim received the market and tax rights in 990 from Empress Theophanu, wife of late Otto II, mother of Otto III, another very important woman of the time. Theophanu´s daughter Adelheid I and two of her granddaughters were abbesses here.

Luidolf brought relics from a pilgrimage to Rome to Gandersheim, so the church is still "St.Anastasius and St. Innocent". Meanwhile it is used by the by the Evangelical-Lutheran parish of Gandersheim.

The hall-crypt under the elevated choir is for sure the oldest part of the church. This crypt may date back to one of the earlier architectural structures here. The first church here, that was funded by Liudolf of Saxony, got consecrated already in 881.

Facing east. You´ll see the table in the nave again - on the next photo.

This part of "St. Anastasius and St. Innocent" is not only the oldest, but during winter time as well the coldest.