Die tirolische Legende vom „Anderl von Rinn“. Andreaskult und Wallfahrtskirche

Abstract

Hippolyt Guarinoni is a key figure in the Tyrolean Anderl-cult. His anti Jewish attitude rooted in a deeply Catholic attitude very common in the baroque era. He created a Tyrolean marthyr’s cult („Anderl-cult“) following the concept of the Simon of Trient-legend. The Anderl-legend spread very fast. It was then connected to a child’s murder in Judenstein, near Innsbruck, for which Jews were made responsible. To commemorate the violent „ritual death“ of Anderl Guarinoni planned a church at the very spot of his death. The plan was realized after Guarinonis death in the 17^th century. Pilgrimages, processions, songs, prayers, plays, etc. made the place famous far across the borders. These pilgrimages continued far into the 20^th century thus keeping up a latent antisemitism in the population. The cult was forbidden in 1989 by Bishop Stecher.