The Benedictus Church in Freising is an important Catholic church on the Domberg, east of the cathedral. It can be reached via the cloister, which leads through the rear part of the church and is only separated from the cloister by an ornate iron gate from 1716.
The church was first mentioned historically in the chronicles of Otto von Freising, who reported that Bishop Korbinian founded a community of monks here. The first church was probably built at the cathedral monastery around 825 with the introduction of the Benedictine rule. It is unclear whether this already stood on the site of the current church. Since the 12th century, the church has been venerated as the first burial place of Saint Korbinian.
The current three-aisled Gothic basilica with a steep gable roof and a strongly recessed polygonal choir was built in 1347 under cathedral provost Otto von Maxlrain. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the church was fully fitted with stained glass windows, of which only the main window remains today. The late Gothic nave vault is the work of the Munich master Jörg von Halspach, the builder of the Munich Frauenkirche.
Inside the church there are remarkable works of art, including a painting by Andreas Wolff entitled “Beheading of John the Baptist” in the north aisle. The former high altarpiece from 1665, “Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple” by Christopher Paudiß, is now in the Diocesan Museum.
The Benedictus Church served as the church of the cathedral chapter and formed a spiritual counterpart to the Johannes Church, which had been built as the episcopal court chapel around 20 years earlier. Today it is a branch church and is a listed building.
A visit to the Benedictus Church offers a deep insight into the religious and architectural history of Freising and is a worthwhile destination for those interested in art and history.