Hofkirchen bei Hartberg
 |
Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Austria - Österreichische Gemeindewappen |
|
HOFKIRCHEN BEI HARTBERG
State : Steiermark
District : Hartberg
Origin/meaning
The arms were granted on Nov 15, 1993.
In medieval times, Hofkirchen was a Ritterhof, a manor of the von Safen family. One member of this family was the Minnesänger Leutold von Saven (13th century), who is recorded in the famous Codex Manesse as Luitolt von Seuen. The Codex also attributes to him a coat of arms, too, which, however, is a fantastical one.
These arms are the basis of the arms of Hofkirchen. The courtly ermine is to indicate the Hof- (court) part of the name, while the heraldically stylised stones are a reference to St. Stephan, the patron-saint of Hofkirchen's church. St. Stephan, archmartyr, was stoned to death at the instigation of Saulus (later the Apostle Paulus).
Literature : Image provided by Karl Palfrader (k.palfrader@aon.at), MStLA 44/45 (1995), p. 54.