Pfarrkirche St. Severin

Gazing at Pfarrkirche St. Severin, have you ever considered its connection to rain? Legend says St. Severin, Cologne’s third bishop, is the patron saint of rain. His arrival in Cologne supposedly ended a long drought with heavy downpours. This patronage of rain manifested again in 1999. Rain seeped into Severin’s shrine during a procession. Upon opening the shrine, restorers discovered ancient silk fabrics dating back to the 4th century. This incident further cemented the association of St. Severin with rain. Pfarrkirche St. Severin stands tall at 79 meters. It’s the second tallest of Cologne’s twelve Romanesque churches. The church is a treasure trove of architectural history. It holds valuable artifacts, intriguing stories, and captivating legends. In 1999, the relic shrine needed repair. Inside, they found an 11th-century wooden casket. This casket contained bones, grape seeds, leather, mouse bones, and eight silk and linen cloths. Some fragments still retained their color. They dated back to the 4th-5th and 7th-10th centuries. One fabric, once as valuable as gold, measured 274 x 134 cm. It is the largest preserved medieval silk fabric. The casket’s seals suggest it had been opened only five times. This protected the fabrics from light, preserving their colors and texture. Pfarrkirche St. Severin’s history started in a Roman burial ground. The area also housed a road to Bonn, now Severinstrasse. A small chapel existed on the site from the 4th century. It underwent expansions and alterations until the 11th century. Then, construction began on a Romanesque basilica and crypt. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the nave was renovated in the late Gothic style. Despite the changes, Pfarrkirche St. Severin’s foundations and walls are Romanesque. Even a Romanesque altar can be seen at the back of the choir.