Starting with the lyric poetry, this volume opens the first critical edition of the sacred works of the prominent Nuremberg Baroque poet Sigmund von Birken (1626?1681). A double volume, it provides access to the most extensive collection of Birken's sacred poetry still extant in manuscript. Alongside mourning poems, the collection contains poems covering a wide variety of other occasions. The apparatuses and commentaries provide a detailed documentation of critical textual issues, locate the texts historically, cite biblical references, show the theological and devotional orientation of the poems and a great deal more.