Day of issue of the commemorative stamp "Holy Family, parish church Waldhausen im Strudengau" A child is born

A baroque representation of the Holy Family with the newborn Jesus graces this festive Christmas commemorative stamp.

The Christmas stamp features a detail from a painting located in the parish church of Waldhausen im Strudengau, a small town in the Mühlviertel region. The portrait was likely created in the 17th century by an unknown South German painter. Light and shadow create a dramatic contrast in the image: a ray of light falls upon the joyful family, making them shine brightly. Mary looks tenderly at her newborn son, whom Joseph holds in his arms on a cloth. Joseph lovingly leans towards the child, who smiles back and reaches for his beard. In his right hand, Jesus holds a white lily, a symbol of purity and virginity in Christianity.

This valuable baroque oil painting on linen was restored in 1957 during renovation work in the church and was framed with an ornate baroque frame by the Salzburg sculptor Sepp Mayrhofer. It is now the main image above the Mary altar in the church's south nave. The three-aisled Gothic parish church, with a remarkable Renaissance portal, is located below the collegiate church of Waldhausen, built by the Augustinian Canons, and is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The nave, built around 1610 under Provost Hermann Parthenreuther by the Linz builder Hiob Eder, is considered an important post-Gothic building.

Day of issue of the commemorative stamp Christmas 2023 - Holy Family, parish church Waldhausen im Strudengau

When? 
17 November 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where? 
Parish library, Markt 22, 4391 Waldhausen im Strudengau

Group pictures: 
Presentation: © Robert Zinterhof

Group picture, left to right:
Erwin Hofbauer (representative, region centre), minister Karl Michael Wögerer, Martina Prinz, (Head of Philately POS at Österreichische Post AG), Erwin Uhrmann (association President), Helmut Kogler (President, Federation of Austrian Philatelists), Rosa Ecker (Member of Parliament), Nikolaus Prinz (Memberof Parliament), Franz Gassner (mayor)