Deutz Abbey

The Abbey was a monastery Deutz in Cologne -Deutz at the site of the former Roman fort Divitia. Because of their reconstructed Romanesque components include the Monastery church of Alt St. Heribert of the 13 small Romanesque churches, which are managed by the Friends of Romanesque churches in Cologne.

History

The abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1003 by the Archbishop of Cologne, Heribert. The Bishop was a close advisor to the Emperor Otto III. and had this promise on his deathbed at Castel Paterno in Rome a year earlier, to found a monastery in honor of the Virgin Mary.

In his deed of gift Heribert overwrote the new monastery numerous benefices, the parish church Deutz with her ​​from the surrounding farms - Deutz, lime, Vingst, Poll, Rolshoven and Westhoven - entitled tithing. In addition, the monastery were a quarter of the time already Archbishop King Forst and half of the Grembergs, both extensive rechtsrheinische forest areas appropriated.

A large Romanesque abbey church as the center of the plant was inaugurated in 1020 by Heribert. A year later, the remains of Heribert rest here. Particularly significant was the former main building of the church, which is not obtained. Gives an impression of wood engraving from 1530.

Currently Anno II or one of his immediate successors Deutz become a part of Siegburger reform. Among the abbots counted Rupert of Deutz († 1129 ), a Benedictine monk of Liege and important theologian of his time. He stood in front of the monastery from 1121 to 1129.

The strategic location at the Rhine made ​​the place also the scene of hostilities. In the 14th and 16th centuries, the plant was destroyed and rebuilt. The present building of the former monastery church dates from 1663. Instead of building a central pillar basilica choir joined with two flank towers. The equipment was in the Baroque style. In the Napoleonic era, the monastery was secularized. 1804, the monastery church for Deutz parish church was raised, as the existing church was badly damaged in the great Rhine flood in 1784.

The monastery building itself was badly damaged in World War II, so that only the ground floor and part of the vaulted cellar remained. In the 1970s, the building was rebuilt, with the facade corresponds to the historical appearance and is a listed building. The building now houses a senior facilities of Caritas. Worth seeing inside are the wall paintings by contemporary artist Werner Weber.

Towards the end of the 19th century was erected in the center of the district Deutz, the parish church of St. Heribert New. There is now also a native of the 12th century gold forged shrine with the bones of Hereward. The old monastery church is currently place of worship of the Greek Orthodox community in Cologne.