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History

Even though Steinfeld has a history of more than 1000 years, we are celebrating (2 years late due to Corona) the 900th anniversary of the founding of the monastery in 2023.

The historical beginnings go back to the time of Henry I (919-936), but are lost in the historical darkness. Around 1070 the first settlement of an order, the Benedictines, took place.

In 1121, regular canons from Springiersbach (Wittlich district) came to Steinfeld. A deed of donation from the Archbishop of Cologne at the time, Frederick I, to these regular canons dates from the same year, documenting the founding of Steinfeld Abbey.

Around 1130 they took over the rule of the still young Premonstratensian order, which was only founded in 1120 by St. Norbert von Xanten, who later became Bishop of Magdeburg.

Steinfeld was one of the most important monasteries in the German Empire. Subsidiaries were founded in Ireland, Holland and Germany as well as in Eastern Europe. The Strahov Monastery (1140) near Prague is of particular importance. In 1184 Steinfeld was raised to the status of an abbey, in which 44 abbots ruled in uninterrupted succession until secularization (1802).

After secularization in 1802, the monastery served various secular purposes until it was taken over and revived by the Salvatorian order in 1923.

The Salvatorians took over the former monastery church and today’s basilica as well as pastoral care in the parish, founded a grammar school and a boys’ boarding school that has since been closed. Today, in addition to a monastery shop with a monastery café, they run the Steinfeld Monastery Academy and run the guest house.

In its entirety, Steinfeld is considered to be one of the best-preserved monastic monuments in the Rhineland and a place with a lively culture and tradition that is now thousands of years old.

The Order of the Premonstratensian

Pater Jordan – Founder of the  Salvatorian

Hermann Joseph from Steinfeld

……….

The Order of the  Salvatorian

More about the 1000 year history

2021

Beatification of Father Francis Jordan
(Founder of the Salvatorian Community)

1992

850 Years of Steinfeld Basilica

1960

The Steinfeld church becomes a Papal Basilica  (basilica minor)

1958

Hermann Joseph may be venerated as a saint

1923

Takeover of the monastery by the Salvatorians, establishment of a school and boarding school.

1844

The monastery comes into the possession of the Prussian state and becomes an educational institution.

1802

The abbey is dissolved by Napoleon: the monastery church becomes a parish church, St.Andrew´s Church is demolished, the monastery buildings are sold and art objects are disposed of.

1767 until 1784

Abbot Evermodus Claessen from Gangelt gives the monastery complex it present form including the extensive monastery wall with the large entrance gate

1522 until 1557

Glazing of the cloister with ornate stained glass windows

From approx. 1500

After the difficult years (including the plague): Beginning of a new golden age for Steinfeld

End of the 15th century

Reconstruction of the cloister in Gothic style

1381 until 1388

Under Abbot Gottfried Bongender, the monastery is attached by the Bretons and the abbot is cruelly murdered.

around 1240

Saint Hermann Joseph dies

1184

Steinfeld is raised to the status of an abbey

1142

Laying of the foundation stone of the present basilica in Steinfeld

Around 1130

Regular canon adopt the rule of the Premonstratensian Order

1121

Regular canons come to Steinfeld and documented foundation of Kloster Steinfeld

1069

First mention of a Benedicitine order to live in Steinfeld

around 920

Around the year 930, a first church is said to have been founded in Steinfeld by Count Sybodo from Aargau.