Christmas - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1999 - 7 Shilling

The stamp shows a section of the high altar picture - on the occasion of its 225th anniversary - the Roman Catholic Church. City parish church of Pinkafeld (Burgenland). According to the research so far Pinkafeld represents the oldest mother church of the later rule amber. After the possession Pinkafelds by the Archdiocese of Salzburg in 860 is assumed that at that time already a wooden church has existed or has been established. There is no evidence for that. The first explicit mention of a church in Pinkafeld dates back to 1289. The present parish church was built in the years 1772 - 1774. On 1 September 1786, the church was consecrated to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The late Baroque oil painting depicting the Nativity was created by Anton Jäntl in 1774. Due to its central position in the sanctuary, the image is at the center of worship by the faithful. The oil painting, held in cool and rather dark colors, shows in the center, lying on the lap of Mary, in a bright light the newborn child.