Basilica of St. Paulinus, Trier

Last updated
Basilica of St. Paulinus, Trier
Saint Paulinus
Trier St. Paulin BW 2018-04-07 15-09-21.jpg
Basilica of St. Paulinus, Trier
49°45′45″N6°39′8″E / 49.76250°N 6.65222°E / 49.76250; 6.65222
Location Trier
CountryGermany
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Status Basilica (minor)
Founded4th century
Dedication Paulinus of Trier
Architecture
Functional statusactive
Architect(s) Balthasar Neumann
Style Baroque
Groundbreaking 1734
Completed1753

Saint Paulinus (German : St. Paulinskirche) is a Baroque church in the city of Trier, Germany. Constructed between 1734 and 1753, the interior was designed by Johann Balthasar Neumann. The ceiling of the nave features a painting by the artist Christoph Thomas Scheffler. The tomb of the saint after whom the church is named, Paulinus of Trier, is located in the church's crypt.

Contents

Based in Germany's oldest city with a significant Roman history, three church buildings have stood on the site since the 4th century.

History

First church: 4th Century to 1039

Anti-Arian Paulinus of Trier was a bishop of Trier before being exiled to Phrygia in 353. [1] He died there five years later, but his remains were returned to Trier in 395. [2] [3] Felix of Trier, a bishop of the city who held the post from 386 to 398, initiated the erection of a crypt and church on the current site of Saint Paulinus' Church, near a cemetery and just outside the walls of the city. [1] [4] [5] Felix originally dedicated the church (and associated monastery) to the Theban Legion, [5] martyred, according to legend, near Agaunum (present-day Saint Maurice-en-Valais) for refusing to renounce their Christian beliefs. The alleged remains of up to twelve of these martyred soldiers were placed in the crypt by Felix of Trier. [5] [6] [7] Paulinus of Trier's body was later interred here also, and the dedication of the church was transferred to the saint. [5] Several centuries later, in 1039, a fire destroyed the building, but the crypt was spared damage. [1] [4]

Second church: c. 1148 to 1674

Following the fire of the original, ancient church, a new building was constructed under Archbishop Bruno. [4] Pope Eugene III consecrated the completed church in 1148. [1] Smaller than the present building, the basilica featured a twin-tower façade with staircases either side, not unlike the balconies on the west face of the Cathedral of Trier, built for displaying relics to the public. [4]

French troops besieged and occupied Trier in 1673. In order to make space for an encampment, soldiers blew up the church the following year. [1] [4]

Third church: 1734 to present

Coat of arms of Franz Georg von Schonborn at Basilica St. Paulinus Trier Sankt Paulin Wappen von Schonborn.jpg
Coat of arms of Franz Georg von Schönborn at Basilica St. Paulinus

Sixty years after the destruction of the second church by French troops, Franz Georg von Schönborn-Buchheim, Archbishop of Trier, funded the erection of a new basilica. [1] Designed as a single nave, probably by the architect Christian Kretzschmar, [4] most of the internal elements were the work of Johann Balthasar Neumann, a significant Baroque architect responsible for several impressive buildings, such as the Würzburg Residence. [1] Dates for the completion of the church are given as 1743 or 1753, but it was consecrated in 1757. [4] [8] The tower reaches a height of 53 metres, and the length of the building is 52 m.

Between 1802 and 1804, the monastery associated with the church was dissolved when assets were seized by the French, the church losing its collegial status and becoming a parish church instead. [1] [4] On 23 May 1958, Pope Pius XII awarded the church Basilica minor status.

Features and functions

Painted ceiling by Christoph Thomas Scheffler Trier Sankt Paulin BW 12.jpg
Painted ceiling by Christoph Thomas Scheffler

As well as being the architect of the building, Neumann contributed his Rococo architectural flair to several internal elements, including the stucco work, ornate altars, and ciborium. The sculptor Ferdinand Tietz carried out several of Neumann's plans, carving elements such as the statuary and choir stalls. [1] [4]

The ceiling of the nave features a large fresco painted by Christoph Thomas Scheffler, portraying scenes from the life of St Paulinus and depictions of the martyrdom of the Theban Legion. [1] [4]

Organ-builder Romanus Benedict Nollet worked on the organ between 1753 and 1756. [4] [9] Klais Orgelbau, an organ building and restoration company, restored and electrified the pipe organ before 1934, and renewed it in 1991. [4]

The church's four bells were cast by the brothers Charles and Joseph Perrin between 1821 and 1822. As few European bells from the 19th century survived two world wars, the bells are considered historically important.

No.
 		Name
 		Cast year
 		Founder
 		Diameter
(mm)		Weight
(kg)		Nominal
(16th)
1Paulinus & Trierische martyrs1821Joseph & Charles Perrin15702365B0 −11
2Nikolaus & Donatus1821Joseph & Charles Perrin14201774C#1 –9
3Michael & Walburga1821Joseph & Charles Perrin12731239D1 −5
4Petrus & Johannes Nepomuk1822Joseph & Charles Perrin11681017E1 −4

The church is active as a place of worship and is open for viewing by the public several days each week. [1] It also hosts concerts, usually organ recitals. The martyrdom of the Theban Legion is commemorated each year in October by opening the crypt to visitors who wish to view the tombs of the Roman soldiers interred there. [7] At other times of year, it is normally only possible to view a portion of the crypt through a metal grille. [7]

The church still maintains a cemetery in its grounds, and in 1989 a chapel was erected near the grave of Blessed Blandine Merten, who died in Trier in 1918. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of Saint-Denis</span> Basilica in Saint-Denis, France

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is a large former medieval abbey church and present cathedral in the commune of Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris. The building is of singular importance historically and architecturally as its choir, completed in 1144, is widely considered the first structure to employ all of the elements of Gothic architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crypt</span> Stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault

A crypt is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balthasar Neumann</span> German architect (1687-1753)

Johann Balthasar Neumann, usually known as Balthasar Neumann, was a German architect and military artillery engineer who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period, including the Würzburg Residence and the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume</span> Commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur, France

Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a commune in the southeastern French department of Var, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Located 40 km (25 mi) east of Aix-en-Provence, the town lies at the foot of the Sainte-Baume mountains. Baume or bama is the Provençal equivalent of cave. The town's basilica is dedicated to Mary Magdalene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theban Legion</span> Group of Egyptian saints

The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as a Roman legion from Egypt —"six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — consisting of Christian soldiers who were martyred together in 286, according to the hagiographies of Maurice, the chief among the Legion's saints. Their feast day is held on September 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers</span> Church in Bad Staffelstein, Germany

The Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers is a church located near the town of Bad Staffelstein near Bamberg, in Bavaria, southern Germany. The late Baroque (Rococo) basilica, designed by Balthasar Neumann, was constructed between 1743 and 1772. It is dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints venerated together in the Catholic Church, especially in Germany at the time of the Black Death. The interior has been nicknamed "God's Ballroom".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felix and Regula</span> Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic saints

Felix and Regula are Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic saints. They are the patron saints of Zürich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neresheim Abbey</span>

Neresheim Abbey or the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra, Neresheim is located above the town of Neresheim in Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany. It is now a Benedictine monastery and is part of the Beuronese Congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hagios Demetrios</span> Main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius

The Church of Saint Demetrius, or Hagios Demetrios, is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, dating from a time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire. Since 1988, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a part of the site Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazarius and Celsus</span> Child martyrs

Nazarius and Celsus were two martyrs of whom little is known beyond the discovery of their bodies by Ambrose of Milan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gereon</span>

Gereon of Cologne, who may have been a soldier, was martyred at Cologne by beheading, probably in the early 4th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christoph Thomas Scheffler</span> German painter

Christoph Thomas Scheffler was a German painter of the rococo period. He is best known for his frescoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonn Minster</span>

Bonn Minster is a Catholic church in Bonn. It is one of Germany's oldest churches, having been built between the 11th and 13th centuries. At one point the church served as the de facto cathedral for the Archbishopric of Cologne, because it is the major church of what was then the Archbishop-Elector's residence. It is now a minor basilica. It served as the inspiration for the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, as Kaiser Wilhelm II had studied in Bonn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trier Cathedral</span> Church in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

The High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier, or Trier Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest cathedral in Germany and the largest religious structure in Trier, notable for its long life span and grand design. The central part of the nave was built of Roman brick in the early fourth century, resulting in a cathedral that was added onto gradually in different eras. The imposing Romanesque westwork, with four towers and an additional apse, has been copied repeatedly. The Trier Cathedral Treasury contains an important collection of Christian art. In 1986 the church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xanten Cathedral</span>

Xanten Cathedral, sometimes called St. Victor's Cathedral, is a Catholic church situated in Xanten, a historic town in the lower Rhine area, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is considered the biggest cathedral between Cologne and the sea. In 1936 it was declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI. Even though the church is called a cathedral, it has never been the seat of a bishop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Maurice</span> Roman Theban Legion leader (AD 250–287)

Maurice was an Egyptian military leader who headed the legendary Theban Legion of Rome in the 3rd century, and is one of the favourite and most widely venerated saints of that martyred group. He is the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulda Cathedral</span> Church in Fulda, Germany

Fulda Cathedral is the former abbey church of Fulda Abbey and the burial place of Saint Boniface. Since 1752 it has also been the cathedral of the Diocese of Fulda, of which the Prince-Abbots of Fulda were created bishops. The abbey was dissolved in 1802 but the diocese and its cathedral have continued. The dedication is to Christ the Saviour. The cathedral constitutes the high point of the Baroque district of Fulda, and is a symbol of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of St. Castor</span>

The Basilica of St. Castor is the oldest church in Koblenz in the German state of Rhineland Palatinate. It is located near Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle. A fountain called Kastorbrunnen was built in front of the basilica during Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. Pope John Paul II raised St. Castor to a basilica minor on 30 July 1991. This church is worth seeing for the historical events that have occurred in it, its extensive Romanesque construction and its largely traditional furnishings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solothurn Cathedral</span> Church in Switzerland

The St. Ursus Cathedral or Solothurn Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel in the city of Solothurn, Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blandine Merten</span> German Roman Catholic nun

Blandine Merten, was a German Ursuline. Merten worked as a teacher from 1902 to 1908 in the secular environment while then serving as a teacher while in the religious life from her first vows profession until 1916 when ill health forced her to stop teaching. Pope John Paul II beatified her on 1 November 1987.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "St. Paulin: Description & History". Trier tourism. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  2. ↑ Wild, John Peter (July 1987). "The Roman Horizontal Loom". American Journal of Archaeology. 91 (3). Archaeological Institute of America: 459–471. doi:10.2307/505366. JSTOR   505366. S2CID   193098783.
  3. ↑ Thomas, Charles (1981). Christianity in Roman Britain to AD 500, Part 500. University of California Press. p. 161. ISBN   978-0-520-04392-3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Trierer Kirchen: St. Paulin". Organs of Trier (in German). Trierer Orgelpunkt. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "400 Felix of Trier generosity to the poor virtuous (Trèves) B (RM)". Saint of the Day March 26. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  6. ↑ Mathisen, Ralph W. (1987). "Some Hagiographical Addenda to P. L. R. E.". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 36 (4). Franz Steiner Verlag: 448–461. JSTOR   4436027.
  7. 1 2 3 Kaiser, Frank (October 2008). "Days of Martyrs". Photos. Trek Earth. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  8. ↑ Yates, Nigel (2008). Liturgical Space: Christian Worship and Church Buildings in Western Europe 1500-2000. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 98. ISBN   978-0-7546-5797-2.
  9. ↑ Kassel, Richard; Bush, Douglas E. (2006). "The organ: an encyclopedia" . Encyclopedia of keyboard instruments. Vol. 3. Routledge. p.  372. ISBN   978-0-415-94174-7.
  10. ↑ "Selige Blandine Merten". Heiligenkalender (in German). kirchensite.de. Retrieved 2010-06-06.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to St Paulinus' Church at Wikimedia Commons


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.