Legend of the Church in the Rocks at
Idar Oberstein, Germany
During the 14th century it is said that two brothers, Wyrich, the oldest of the two, and Emich, obviously the youngest of the two lived high above the city of Oberstein, above the church and were the Lords of Oberstein. Little did each brother know, they were both in love with the same beautiful young girl, Bertha, a Lady of Berg Lichtenberg. During a brief time when Wyrich had been away from the castle Emich and Bertha had fallen in love, become engaged, and wed, all unknown to Wyrich. Upon Wyrich returning and learning of this betrayal, his temper got the best of him and he threw his brother from a window in the tower to the rocks 450 feet below, of course resulting in his brother Emich's death.
When Wyrich finally realized what he had done he was overcome with remorse and fled the castle travelling for a long period of time, seeking out his own death, until he finally decided to return home. Bertha had at one point passed away and some say she died of a broken heart. Wyrich is said to of confessed what he done to an abbot at Bertha's grave-side. The abbot told Wyrich that for his penance he would need to build a chapel at the place where his brother's broken body had been found and he would need to build this church with his own bare hands. This made Wyrich work diligently praying the whole time that he may find forgiveness in his actions. When he finally completed the church it was a sign that he was forgiven, and a sign of this was when a sprint opened up in the chapel. This spring still remains active today.
Wyrich had passed away on the steps of the altar as the chapel was be consecrated. He was buried in the same tomb that he had carved out of hard rock for Emich -- the two brothers finally united, at last, in death.
Photograph taken by myself on September 6, 2015.
Information for this story was received from:
http://fanzone50.com/oberstein.html
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