Before us stands St German ad undas a humble chapel with a rich and complex past. This unassuming building in Trier has witnessed centuries of change. Its name itself hints at a turbulent history. ‘Ad undas’ meaning ‘by the waves’ refers to the Mosel River’s former course. The river once flowed much closer to St German ad undas its waters creating waves near the site. Another less elegant interpretation translates ‘ad undas’ to ‘by the dog’ a playful twist on the Latin phrase.
Originally a convent dedicated to St Germanus the site housed a community of nuns. In 1269/70 the convent relocated to Neustraße for better safety. The street name Germanstraße still commemorates the convent’s former presence. However the nuns faced challenges. Their numbers dwindled. Moral standards lapsed. Due to these problems Archbishop Johannes II of Baden transferred the convent to the Abbey of St Matthias in 1477. The abbey was tasked with maintaining regular masses and supporting the remaining nuns.
Soon after secular priests arrived at St German ad undas. Archbishop Johannes II commissioned them to establish a school. For a brief period Jesuits took over the convent. Archbishop Johannes von der Leyen oversaw this change. In 1570 Archbishop Jacob III von Eltz passed St German ad undas to Franciscan Minorite friars. The friars in turn gave their convent to the Jesuits. This new arrangement proved ideal for the school.
The French Revolution dramatically changed Trier’s landscape. In 1801 Trier came under French control. The secularisation decree of 1802 dissolved convents. St German ad undas and St Medard parishes merged forming St Matthias parish in 1803. The convent church became a parish church. This marked the end of St German ad undas’s time as an independent parish.
A Trier citizen bought St German ad undas. He converted it into a dwelling. In 1848 the house transformed back into a chapel. St German ad undas’s parish included parts of Feyen Heiligkreuz and Merzlich. The priest lived in the city. The parish’s income wasn’t sufficient to maintain a house outside the city walls.
Even the identity of St Germanus remains unclear. Some believe it’s St Germanus of Auxerre. His only known connection to Trier is a trip to England with Bishop Severus of Trier. Others propose St Germanus of Granfelden. This Germanus belonged to a Trier senatorial family. After monastic training he became a priest at Luxeuil. He was killed near Rennendorf in 6757. The exact patron saint remains uncertain. St German ad undas stands as a testament to Trier’s layered history. Its quiet presence speaks volumes about the changes that have shaped this ancient city.