In 2006 the Cistercian abbey at Stična celebrated the 870th anniversary of the issue of its founding charter (issued at the end of 1136) and the 850th anniversary of the consecration of the monastery church (on 8 July 1156). The Slovenian Religious Museum, which has its premises at the abbey, also joined in the celebration of this important anniversary of the oldest operating monastery in Slovenia. We prepared a series of exclusive guided tours for visitors with prominent experts in architecture, art history, and archeology. In the special publication Stiški samostan v jubilejnem letu 2006 / The Stična Monastery in the Anniversary Year 2006 we published their contributions.
In her article "Architectural Research on the Cloister in Stična," Mateja Kavčič writes about the discoveries resulting from extensive conservation and restoration procedures carried out in the cloister from 2000 to 2004. Following the conservation and restoration work, which also included the restoration of 14th-century frescoes, today the cloister is thoroughly restored and researched, and its construction history is also much clearer.
Marko Frelih has written an article titled "Archeological Studies of the Lavatory and the First Evidence of Iron Age Settlement at the Location of the Monastery in Stična." An archeological excavation was also carried out at the site of the former lavatory during restoration procedures in 2003. The well-preserved solid foundations confirm the existence of a former two-storey structure above a well in the cloister garden that stood opposite the entrance to the refectory. The remnants of ceramics and traces of objects from the early Iron Age were a surprising discovery. This is the first documented evidence that the area of the monastery complex was settled as early as the first millennium BC.
In her article "New Findings on the Romanesque Architectural Sculpture at Stična," Mija Oter Gorenčič analyzes recently discovered Romanesque capitals, bases, mullions, and other architectural elements from the cloister of the Stična monastery. The fragments discovered were most likely carved after the construction and consecration of the monastery church in 1156, probably in the last half or quarter of the 12th century. Their exceptionally high-quality stonemasonry and their ascetic ornamentation are fully comparable to top-quality pieces of 12th century Cistercian architectural sculpture from the French region of Burgundy, the homeland of the order.
In his article "The Romanesque Basilica in Stična," Robert Peskar describes the monastery basilica of the Holy Mother of Sorrows from its consecration on 8 July 1156 to the present. The Stična basilica, an immense Romanesque building, continues to represent an exceptional architectural monument for scholars of medieval monastery architecture. With its layout that terminates in semicircular apses to the east, the Stična basilica occupies an important place in the development of early Cistercian architecture before the implementation of the "Bernardine" type, which terminates in a level choir. Its architect most likely looked primarily to distant Burgundian examples of reformed Benedictine monasteries.
Nataša Polajnar Frelih
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Nataša Polajnar Frelih: Introduction
2. Mateja Kavčič: Arhitectural Research on the Cloister in Stična
3. Marko Frelih: Arheological Excavations of the Lavatory and the First Evidence of iron Age Settlement at Stična Monastery Site
4. Mija Oter Gorenčič: New Findings on the Romanesque Arhitectural Sculpture at Stična
5. Robert Peskar: The Romanesque Basilica in Stična
