St. Paulinus' Church, Trier
| Basilica of St. Paulinus, Trier | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates: 49°45′44.9″N 6°39′7.88″E / 49.762472°N 6.6521889°E | |
| Location | Trier |
| Country | Germany |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 4th century |
| Dedication | Paulinus of Trier |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Basilica (minor) |
| Functional status | active |
| Architect(s) | Balthasar Neumann |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1734 |
| Completed | 1753 |
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.
Based in Germany's oldest city with a significant Roman history, three church buildings have stood on the site since the 4th century.
Anti-Arian Paulinus of Trier was a bishop of Trier before being exiled to Phrygia in 353. He died there five years later, but his remains were returned to Trier in 395. 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. Felix originally dedicated the church (and associated monastery) to the Theban Legion, 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. Paulinus of Trier's body was later interred here also, and the dedication of the church was transferred to the saint. Several centuries later, in 1093, a fire destroyed the building, but the crypt was spared damage.
Following the fire of the original, ancient church, a new building was constructed under Archbishop Bruno.Pope Eugene III consecrated the completed church in 1148. 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.
French troops besieged and occupied Trier in 1673. In order to make space for an encampment, soldiers blew up the church the following year.
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