St. Matthias' Abbey, Trier

Saint Matthias' Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Trier, stands as a revered site, rooted in centuries of religious tradition and pilgrimage. Originally dedicated to Saint Eucharius, the first bishop of Trier, the abbey became renowned for housing the tomb of Saint Matthias the Apostle, the only burial site of an apostle in Germany and north of the Alps. Since the 12th century, the abbey has attracted pilgrims drawn to the Apostle’s relics, which were discovered in 1127. These relics are believed to have arrived under the direction of Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I.

Founded with an oratory by Cyrillus of Trier in the 5th century, the monastery adopted the Benedictine Rule around 977. This Romanesque basilica was granted the title of a minor basilica, intertwining its roles as a monastic church, pilgrimage destination, parish church, and the burial site of Trier’s early bishops, Eucharius and Valerius. In the 12th century, the abbey produced significant manuscripts, including the Collectaneum of Sedulius Scottus, demonstrating its early intellectual influence. During the Council of Basel reforms, the abbey achieved notable spiritual and economic revival, joining the Bursfelde Congregation in 1458.

The abbey's history reveals resilience through conflicts, secularization in 1802, and near-demolition, saved by Christoph Philipp Nell. Monks from Seckau Abbey revived the community post-WWI, joining the Beuron Congregation in 1922. Briefly closed during WWII, the monks returned, affiliating with the Congregation of the Annunciation by 1981. Today, the community partners with Huysburg Priory, engaging in parish work, hospital care, pilgrimages, and ecumenical discussions.

The basilica itself is a Marian shrine, home to a cherished icon of the Virgin Mary. The Chapel of the Cross, located on the north side tower, contains a 13th-century reliquary of the True Cross, accessible through guided tours.