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42-523: There was no permanent settlement in the area prior to the early medieval period, but numerous artefacts left by prehistoric hunters, dated to the Mesolithic to Bronze Age were recovered. The original " hermitage " is associated with St. Meinrad , a Benedictine monk from the family of the Counts of Hohenzollern . According to legend, Meinrad lived on the slopes of Mt. Etzel from 835 until his death in 861. During

84-475: A Fachhochschule ). Einsiedeln has an unemployment rate of 1.29%. As of 2005, there were 551 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 209 businesses involved in this sector. 1,630 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 199 businesses in this sector. 3,017 people are employed in the tertiary sector , with 486 businesses in this sector. From the 2000 census, 9,834 or 77.9% are Roman Catholic , while 1,240 or 9.8% belonged to

126-657: A Bezirk (or District) in the Canton of Schwyz. During the Restoration starting in 1815, the Abbey's power began to grow in the Canton. A desire for reform led the Districts of March , Küssnacht and Pfäffikon to declare themselves Kanton Schwyz äusseres Land (Canton of Schwyz, Outer Lands) with a liberal constitution in 1832. The Abbey stood on the side of the conservative faction in the Canton, which caused tense relations between them and

168-632: A binding ordinance for all three groups. In 1657 the Drei Teile changed its name to the "Session". The relationship between the three parties was not always smooth. In 1764, an attempt by the Abbot to require tradesmen to only practise their trade in Einsiedeln and preventing skilled workers from settling in among the Waldleute led to open conflict. Schwyz supported the Abbey against the Waldleute and in 1766 crushed

210-414: A building or settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion. Particularly as a name or part of the name of properties its meaning is often imprecise, harking to a distant period of local history, components of the building material, or recalling any former sanctuary or holy place. Secondary churches or establishments run from a monastery were often called "hermitages". In

252-433: A hermitage is called an ashram . Traditionally, an ashram in ancient India was a place where sages lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature . Pf%C3%A4ffikon, Schwyz Pfäffikon is a former municipality and principal town of the municipality of Freienbach in the canton of Schwyz , Switzerland . Together with Wollerau , Pfäffikon is considered the principal town of the district ( Bezirk ) of Höfe and

294-451: A mostly solitary life, meeting with their brethren for communion, for shared meals on holy days, and again irregularly for nature walks, where they are encouraged to have simple discussions about their spiritual life. In the modern era, hermitages are often abutted to monasteries, or in their grounds, being occupied by monks who receive dispensation from their abbot or prior to live a semi-solitary life. However, hermitages can be found in

336-541: A mutual exchange of labour and shared goods between them, forming the first monastic communities. In the later feudal period of the Middle Ages , both monasteries and hermitages alike were endowed by royalty and nobility in return for prayers being said for their family, believing it to be beneficial to the state of their soul. Carthusian monks typically live in a one-room cell or building, with areas for study, sleep, prayer, and preparation of meals. Most Carthusians live

378-449: A series of border raids that, along with other events, in 1315 led to a Habsburg invasion and their crushing defeat at the Battle of Morgarten . It wasn't until 1350 that the conflict was resolved and the borders between Einsiedeln and Schwyz were fixed. In 1394 the Abbey came under the protection of Schwyz and the rights of high justice went over to Schwyz. Low justice though remained with

420-489: A variety of settings, from isolated rural sites, houses in large cities, and even high-rise blocks of flats, depending on the hermit's means. Examples of hermitages in Western Christian tradition: A pustyn ( Russian : пустынь ) or kalyva ( Greek : καλύβα ) or anapat' ( Armenian : անապատ  [ hy ] ) is a small sparsely furnished cabin or room where a person goes to pray and fast alone in

462-412: Is 1,009 people or 8.0% are 65 to 74. There are 609 people or 4.8% who are 70 to 79 and 201 people or 1.59% of the population who are over 80. There is one person in Einsiedeln who is over 100 years old. As of 2000 there are 5,093 households, of which 1,649 households (or about 32.4%) contain only a single individual. 347 or about 6.8% are large households, with at least five members. In the 2007 election

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504-630: Is a popular tourist destination in central Switzerland. The Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey, located within the village, is considered one of the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe and is called "the most important place of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Switzerland". In addition to the Abbey, Einsiedeln is also a popular destination for sports year round. The village has 3 ski areas which include lifts as well as ski jumps. Since

546-445: Is agricultural and only slightly less (44.5%) is forested. The rest of the land is either settled (5.5%) or non-productive (less than 2.8%). Einsiedeln is located approximately 7.5 km (4.7 mi) from the southern end of the Lake of Zurich , and 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the artificial Sihlsee lake. It is on a plateau (ca. 880 m (2,890 ft) above sea level ). The town

588-422: Is any type of domestic dwelling in which a hermit lives. While the level of isolation can vary widely, more often than not it is associated with a nearby monastery . Typically, hermitages consist of at least one detached room, or sometimes a dedicated space within an open floor plan building, for religious devotion, basic sleeping accommodations, and a domestic cooking range, suitable for the ascetic lifestyle of

630-466: Is located at an altitude of 470 m (1,540 ft) higher than Zürich , with which it has a railway connection. Einsiedeln is also the capital and only municipality of the District of Einsiedeln. Einsiedeln has a population (as of 31 December 2020) of 16,247. As of 2007, 13.4% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 14.8%. Most of

672-546: The Habsburgs gained rights over the village of Schwyz and in 1283 when they raised the Abbey to an independent principality under the Habsburgs, this raised a local conflict into a regional one. The Habsburgs were able to quiet the conflict for a few years, until 1291 when Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden revolted against the Habsburgs . In 1314 the conflict flared up again with an attack by Schwyz into Einsiedeln. This attack triggered

714-632: The Swiss Reformed Church . Of the rest of the population, there are less than 5 individuals who belong to the Christian Catholic faith, there are 288 individuals (or about 2.28% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 5 individuals (or about 0.04% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 332 (or about 2.63% of the population) who are Islamic . There are 106 individuals (or about 0.84% of

756-502: The poustinia were not uncommon in Russia prior to the suppression of Christianity in the early 20th century. In this Eastern Christian expression of the eremitic vocation , poustiniks are not solitary but are part of the local community to which they are called. The poustinik is a servant of God and God's people, in communion with the Church. Historically, one who experienced the call "...to

798-538: The 18th century, some owners of English country houses adorned their gardens with a "hermitage", sometimes a Gothic ruin, but sometimes, as at Painshill Park , a romantic hut which a "hermit" was recruited to occupy. The so-called Ermita de San Pelayo y San Isidoro is the ruins of a Romanesque church of Ávila, Spain , that ended up several hundred miles away, to feature in the Buen Retiro Park in Madrid. A hermitage

840-419: The Abbey. Einsiedeln is the birthplace of Paracelsus , a Renaissance physician and alchemist who is credited with first naming zinc . In 1399 the Drei Teile ("Three Parts": a council that included the Abbey, the Waldleute from the surrounding villages, and Schwyz) is first mentioned. Initially the Drei Teile only addressed any issues that affected the free Waldleute . In 1564 they were able to issue

882-715: The Middle Ages the Graces Chapel and a statue of the Black Madonna have been the centerpiece of the pilgrimage. The statue is so famous that a copy can also be seen in the French Jura town of Pontarlier . Between 150,000 and 200,000 pilgrims visit the Graces Chapel each year. Besides being a site for pilgrimages, Einsiedeln is a tourist destination for those interested in winter sports. The village has its own ski jump , ski lifts , ski tows and winter sports centres, which are in

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924-575: The center of the region of Ausserschwyz . The former farm town is known for its focus on hedge funds . With 7,200 residents, Pfäffikon is the third biggest town in the canton after Küssnacht and Einsiedeln . Pfäffikon, together with Wilen bei Wollerau, Freienbach, Bäch and Hurden , form the Municipality of Freienbach. In 1848, Pfäffikon lost its independent status and was subsequently merged into Freienbach. Pfäffikon offers 8 kindergartens, 3 primary schools and one secondary school, as well as one of

966-434: The concept of poustinia accessible to modern Western people. In it, she describes the poustinia as "an entry into the desert, a lonely place, a silent place, where one can lift the two arms of prayer and penance to God in atonement, intercession, reparation for one's sins and those of one's brothers.... To go into the poustinia means to listen to God. It means entering into kenosis — the emptying of oneself." She promotes

1008-406: The former hotels have now closed. At the same time, the village has experienced a boom with day tourists, owing to the clear air and mountain views. Because of the high quality of life locally, the population is growing faster than is normal in Switzerland. Hermitage (religious retreat) A hermitage most authentically refers to a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, or

1050-491: The foundation of the Abbey, the local hunters and small farmers of the forest, placed themselves under the authority of the noble-born Abbot. The surrounding population was known as Waldleute (forest people) because of the forests around the Abbey. The Abbey encouraged the Waldleute to settle in surrounding villages and begin farming. The settlement of Einsiedeln is first mentioned in 1073. The alpine valleys were used to raise cattle, which became increasingly more important to

1092-458: The inhabitant. Depending on the work of the hermit, premises such as a studio, workshop or chapel may be attached or sited in proximity. Originally, the first hermitages were natural caves, temple ruins, and even simple huts in forests and deserts. Around the time of early fourth century (around 300 AD), the spiritual retreats of the Desert Fathers , who had chosen to live apart from society in

1134-588: The most popular party was the SVP which received 43.5% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP (18.8%), the FDP (17.7%) and the SPS (14.8%). The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Einsiedeln about 66% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or

1176-587: The nearby Biberbrugg junction station , there are connections to the InterRegio Voralpen Express to Lucerne and St. Gallen . At Wädenswil junction station, there are connections to services to Zürich . Between 1961 and 1990 Einsiedeln had an average of 156.7 days of rain per year and on average received 1,753 mm (69.0 in) of precipitation . The wettest month was June during which time Einsiedeln received an average of 206 mm (8.1 in) of precipitation. During this month there

1218-583: The nearby area of Hoch-Ybrig and Brunni. The Schwedentritt cross-country skiing trail starts next to the Einsiedeln Abbey . The nearby reservoir, Sihlsee, is used in summer for swimming, surfing and sailing, and in the winter for ice-skating. The dam, which retains the lake, produces electricity for the trains and protects the city of Zürich further down the valley from the flood of the Sihl . These days, fewer pilgrims come to Einsiedeln. For that reason, some of

1260-460: The next eighty years Saint Meinrad's hermitage was never without one or more hermits emulating his example. One of the hermits, named Eberhard, previously Provost of Strasburg, erected a monastery and church there, of which he became first abbot. Work on the monastery is said to have begun in 934. Following a miraculous vision by Eberhard, the new church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. At the time of

1302-447: The population (as of 2000) speaks German (92.3%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common (1.9%) and Albanian being third (1.4%). As of 2000 the gender distribution of the population was 50.4% male and 49.6% female. The age distribution, as of 2008, in Einsiedeln is; 3,211 people or 25.4% of the population is between 0 and 19. 3,628 people or 28.7% are 20 to 39, and 3,964 people or 31.4% are 40 to 64. The senior population distribution

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1344-565: The population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 486 (or about 3.85% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic or atheist , and 329 individuals (or about 2.61% of the population) did not answer the question. The historical population is given in the following table: Einsiedeln is the terminal station of the Wädenswil–Einsiedeln railway , which are served by Zürich S-Bahn lines S13 and S40 . Both lines are operated by Südostbahn (SOB). At

1386-407: The poustinia as a place where anyone — in any walk of life — can go for 24 hours of silence, solitude and prayer. Ultimately, however, the poustinik's call is to the desert of one's own heart wherein he dwells with God alone, whether in the workplace or in a solitary locale. A poustinia cabin or room generally consists of a bed, a table and chair, a cross , and a Bible . In Hinduism ,

1428-463: The poustinia had first, after securing the blessing of their spiritual director , to find a village. He generally did this through pilgrimage and prayer . Once having discovered the village to which he felt God drawing him, the poustinik went to the elders and asked permission to live there as a poustinik. Permission was happily given, as Russians were glad to have a poustinik praying for them. The poustinik lives alone praying for his own salvation,

1470-620: The poustinik. The poustinik is one who listens, and shares the love of Christ with all whom he encounters, as well as a cup of tea or some food; whatever he has he shares, as God has shared all with him. The poustinia was documented by the Catholic social activist Catherine Doherty in her best-selling book Poustinia: Christian Spirituality of the East for Western Man first published in 1975. Although originating with ancient startsy (wise Russian elders, sg. starets ), Doherty's popular book made

1512-528: The presence of God . The word poustyn has its origin in the Russian word for desert (пустыня). A person called to live permanently in a poustinia is called a poustinik (plural: poustiniki ) or anapatakan (Armenian: անապատական). A poustinik is one who has been called by God to live life in the desert ( poustinia ), alone with God in the service of humanity through prayer, fasting, and availability to those who might call upon him or her. Those called to life in

1554-485: The relative isolation of the Nitrian Desert of Egypt , began to attract the attention of the wider Christian community. The piety of such hermits often attracted both laity and other would-be ascetics, forming the first cenobitic communities called "sketes", such as Nitria and Kellia . Within a short time, more and more people arrived to adopt the teachings and lifestyle of these hermits, and there began by necessity

1596-503: The revolt. However, the Abbey lost much of its independence and thereafter was treated more as a subject of Schwyz instead of a partner. During the French invasion of Switzerland in 1798, the Abbey was suppressed for about three years and the land was added to the city of Schwyz. Following the collapse of the post-invasion Helvetic Republic , in 1803 as part of the Act of Mediation Einsiedeln became

1638-423: The salvation of the world, and particularly for the community that God has blessed for him to be a member. Traditionally: The poustinik was also available to the people. When there were special needs, such as a fire to fight or hay to bring in, the poustinik would help. And whenever anyone had something they wanted to talk about—a question about prayer, a problem, a special joy or sorrow—they could go to

1680-503: The surrounding villages until the creation of the Federal State in 1848. Einsiedeln is situated in the valley of the Alp river . It comprises six localities: Bennau , Egg , Willerzell , Euthal , Gross and Trachslau . The village of Biberbrugg is shared with the municipality of Feusisberg . Einsiedeln has a total area of 99.1 km (38.3 sq mi), of which nearly half (47.1%)

1722-414: The village. By 1250 the major business in the village was breeding and raising cattle. Expansion of grazing land into nearby alpine valleys led to a two century conflict with Schwyz . As early as 1100, the villages of Einsiedeln and Schwyz were in conflict over land near the two Mythen mountains. Over the following century, conflicts over the land led to many court battles and actual battles. In 1173 when

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1764-406: Was precipitation for an average of 15.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation was May, with an average of 15.3, but with only 158 mm (6.2 in) of precipitation. The driest month of the year was February with an average of 108 mm (4.3 in) of precipitation over 15.3 days. Schanzen Einsiedeln is the national ski jumping venue of Switzerland. The village of Einsiedeln

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