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CHURCHES, MONASTERIES, CLERGY  

Belltower in Ediger
It is hard to find any village at the Moselle which holds as many monastery sites and ecclesiastic monuments as Ediger-Eller.

Erected in the 15th century, the late Gothic Church of St. Martinus with its twin naves, exceptionally splendorous stellar vault, and rich interior – from the romanesque baptismal font to the baroque altar and the impressive organ (manufactured by the famous Stumm-Dynasty)– features the most beautiful bell tower along the Moselle with the most majestic peal of bells next to the Cathedral of Treves.


Chapel of the Cross
Starting from the Parish Church, one can reach after 1064 double steps (the length of Christ’s way towards his crucifixion) over a colourful Via Dolorosa dating from the 18th century, the Chapel of the Cross (Kreuzkapelle) high above the vineyards. Inside the Chapel an old relief may be discovered – “Christus in der Kelter” (Christ in the Wine Press) – certainly of a humble size, but nevertheless renowned and famous.

It was originally made for the stone pulpit which was manufactured by an unknown artist from the Moselle during the 16th century.

The fame of the relief derives from the allegorical merging of suffering and joy, agony and redeption: The wine berry must be pressed, mashed, before it turns to savoury wine. The deeply religious allegory of the wine being the blood of Christ is depicted in the shape of the suffering Redeemer in the wine press, bringing salvation to the world.

Here the specific Catholicism found in the Moselle region is depicted:
The suffering of the world – who cannot understand this feeling, watching the winemaker doing his hard labour in the vineyard terraces during the winter’s cold or the blazing sun – and dionysic lust of the wine feasts, when the result of sudorific labour brings joy to the hearts of the people…

  

Church in Eller
Back at the Moselle shore it is worth to spend a visit to the Chapel of St. Meinradus.

Within this replica of the “Gnadenkapelle von Maria Einsiedeln” (Chapel of Mercy of St.Marys Hermitage), hailing from the 17th century, one can behold beautiful baroque sculptures.

During the reign of the Merowingian dynasty, a monastery sanctified to St. Fridolin was domiciled in Eller.

Next to the late Romanesque bell tower the gothic nave with its rich interior is situated; for instance an impressive organ (manufactured by the Stumm-dynasty).

In the opposing Chapel of St.Arnulf one can find the wall picture “Verspottung Christi” (Mockery of Christ) from the 15th century, painted after a drawing of Martin Schongauer.


Via Dolorosa

Opposing the Calmont stands the ruin of the minster (1685) of the Augustinian nun’s monastery Stuben, which was established in 1137.

From 1208 – 1788 it domiciled the famous Staurothek (today to be found in the treasury of the Limburg Cathedral), a locket of great importance in art history, which once was said to contain the largest splinter of the Cross of Christ.

Until today the piously celebrated catholic high masses and observances bear witness to the deeply rooted solidarity of the people of Ediger-Eller with Christian belief.
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