Since the fourth century many Roman towns situated in what is now the Greater Region have become Episcopal sees such as Toul, Metz, Spire, Worms, Mayence and Treves.
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european institute of cultural routes |
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| Claire Soriano |
| 20 June 2011 |
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| The Greater Region and religious heritage |
It is at Treves that Constantine I, whose reign marks the beginning of the Christianisation of the Roman Empire, chose to make his home. There he accorded judicial and fiscal privileges to Christians.
In the middle of the fourth century, the emblematic figure of Saint Martin de Tours, then bishop, went twice to Treves and, on those two occasions, he travelled through Metz and Luxembourg; these journeys are commemorated in some localities. It is also at Treves that Saint Martin de Tours was accused of heresy following his defence of bishop Priscillien who was considered a heretic by Emperor Maximus.
After Saint Martin’s journey, his worshippers grew in number. He is not, however, the only saint worshipped in the region. The devotees of saints Lambert, Servais and Willibord became equally numerous in the following centuries. Worship of Saint Willibord continues to this day and manifests itself notably in the annual dancing procession of Echternach every Tuesday after Pentecôte.
In the 11th century large monasteries were built as well as great imperial churches to welcome the pilgrims who travelled along the numerous pilgrimage routes.
From the time of the Carolingians, the number and size of Jewish communities in the region grew. Schools were established, namely at Metz, and some rabbis became famous: Rabbi Gershon of Metz and Rabbi Salomon Ben Isaac (Rashi) who taught at Worms in the eleventh century.
When Rome announced the excommunication of Luther in 1521, an imperial Diet was held at Worms at the request of Charles Quint, and then at Spire in 1529. After the Reformation, the region became the setting for numerous religious conflicts, the Thirty Years War being one of them. With the Counter-Reformation the Church developed a style of architecture designed to oppose to the Protestant architectural style: baroque.
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