Trier - Cathedral of Trier

Founded by the Romans around 30 BC as "Augusta Treverorum", Trier claims (just like Xanten, Cologne, Worms, Speyer...) to be the oldest existing German city.

Trier, the center of a diocese already within the 3rd century, was destroyed by the Alemanni (275), rebuilt under Constantine the Great, who resided in "Augusta Treverorum". Under his the reign Maximin of Trier (329–346), the fifth Bishop here, started the construction of an giant ecclesial ensemble with four basilicas and a baptisterium. This was done on the foundations of a Roman settlement - and had a floorplan about 4 times larger than the Cathedral of today.

The buildings, ruined by the Franks, got rebuilt and destroyed again by the Vikings (Normans) in 882. In 977 Emperor Otto II installed his senior official Egbert of Trier as Bishop, what did not prevent Egbert from supporting Otto´s rival Henry II (Henry the Wrangler) for some time. Egbert started a building process, that reused lots of the ruined structures. The result can be seen today. The western apse was consecrated in 1224, but the building continued over the centuries.

Constantine´s mother Helena lived in Trier for quite some time. Saint Ambros of Milan, born in Trier, wrote that Saint Helena travelled to Jerusalem at the age of 76. There she not only discovered the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha but returned loaded with relics. She brought to Trier the relics of the Apostle Matthias (now in St. Matthias) - and the "Holy Robe". The "Holy Robe" (aka "Heiliger Rock") was first mentioned to be here in 1198, what may have ended a rivalry between the Cathedral in Trier and the Abbey in Pruem (60kms north), as Pepin the Short had given "Jesus´Sandals" to the abbey in 752.

I have been in Trier a couple of times meanwhile, so I will upload photos taken on different times, temperatures, lights and weathers.

During the "Heilig-Rock-Tage" (only a few days per year) the large shrine, holding the "Holy Robe" (aka "Seamless robe of Jesus", "Holy Coat of Trier") can be circled by visitors. The "Holy Robe" cannot be seen, as this is hidden under light-tight covers.

The "Seamless robe of Jesus" refers to

John 19:23-24

"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be."

The authenticity of the robe has been disputed over centuries. Martin Luther called it the "Scam of Trier" (1546). From 1626 to 1794 it has been kept in Ehrenbreitstein Fortress near Koblenz and later in Augsburg. The robe returned to Trier in 1810, but travelling and futile attempts at preservation over the time, lead to a very fragile state of the robe. A scientific examination has not been conducted.


Here is a German website:
www.bistum-trier.de/heilig-rock-tage/