The Altarpiece from Å church

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When one is standing in a museum room or hall looking at an altarpiece, it is important to imagine what it looked like in a little church from the Middle Ages in another light, perhaps just candle light. This alter-screen originated from the old Å church only twenty kilometres from Söderköping where it was placed behind a communion-table, the doors being open or shut at various times during the ecclesiastical year. We do not know where the alter-screen was made but it is dated as being from the 15th Century. It could be Swedish or North German. The limestone board in front of the alter-screen is not from the Å church but Linköping Cathedral.

The main altarpiece motif is the Trinity. God the Father holds the crucified Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit, as symbolised by a pigeon. On each side there is a sculpture of the saints Bishop Blasius and Abbot Jodocus, plus two more sculptured saints so tiny that at first one can hardly see them: the Holy Katharina of Alexandria to the left and the Holy Barbara to the right.

Sculptured depictions of Blasius’ and Jodocus’ suffering and death can be seen on the inside of the altarpiece doors.

The story of Jodocus’ martyrdom is given on the inside of the right door, and should be read like reading a book. He was a king’s son, ordained, and as a hermit built a church. But the devil in the form of an eagle tempts him and takes his cocks. Even God, disguised as a beggar, tests Jodocus begging for his bread. When Jodocus has given away all his bread, God sends a ship full of food to the beach where Jodocus is. The last part describes his death, how the angels close his eyes and place a candle in his folded hands. There is a portrait of Jodocus on the outside of the altarpiece door.

Blasius’ life is described on the left door. He was a Bishop in Armenia during the 4th Century. He was locked in a tower to try to force him to renounce his Christian belief. When that did not help they tried to starve him to death. That failed too and he was tortured before finally being beheaded together with two Christian children.

Both Blasius and Jodocus are unusual Saints in Sweden. What they really looked like was unknown even in the 15th Century. Therefore, what we see on the altarpiece are but imaginary pictures.