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Saint Tomb · Germany

Benedictine Abbey of St. Matthias and the Apostle’s Tomb

Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Saint TombAbbeyApostolic TombBenedictineEarly Bishops of TrierSt. Matthias the ApostleWhere Saints Rest collectionwhere-saints-rest collectiontombs-of-the-apostles collectionTombs of the Apostles & Evangelists collectionCatholicActive Roman Catholic Benedictine abbey and parish. Official Trier church information identifies the apostolic tomb and the tombs of Trier’s founding bishops.
The Romanesque facade of St. Matthias Abbey in Trier, Germany.
The Romanesque facade of St. Matthias Abbey in Trier, GermanyPhoto by Szilas via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Why pilgrims come

Visit the resting place and legacy of St. Matthias the Apostle

The Benedictine Abbey of St. Matthias in Trier is revered as the only apostolic tomb north of the Alps. Its crypt preserves the traditional tomb of Matthias, chosen in Acts 1 to join the Twelve after Judas’s death. The same church also holds the tombs of Eucharius and Valerius, remembered as the first bishops of Trier.

Local tradition says St. Helena brought Matthias’s relics to Trier. The historical documentation becomes clearer in the Middle Ages, when the apostolic cult and large pilgrimages reshaped the abbey church. The distinction matters: pilgrims can honor a long, living ecclesial tradition without claiming more documentary certainty than the sources allow.

St. Matthias remains a functioning Benedictine monastery and parish, not a closed monument. German brotherhoods still make organized pilgrimages to the apostle, continuing a practice that has lasted for centuries. Read Acts 1:15–26 in the crypt: Matthias’s holiness begins with quiet fidelity, discipleship from the beginning, and a mission accepted without later prominence. Verify worship, pilgrim reception, and visitor access with the abbey and Trier cathedral-parish information before traveling.

Read Acts 1 beside the only traditional apostolic tomb north of the Alps, within a living Benedictine community.

Primary sacred connectionSt. Matthias the Apostletraditional tomb in the crypt
Research trail2 catalog sourcesLast checked Sep 27, 2026
Pilgrim planningConfirm before travelingWorship times and access can change
TraditionRoman Catholic Benedictine abbey and traditional apostolic tomb

The sacred connection

People and objects remembered here

These relationships are part of the destination record, with feast days and catalog qualifications shown where available.

SaintSt. Matthias the Apostle

traditional tomb in the crypt

Feast: May 14
SaintSt. Eucharius of Trier

tomb in the abbey church

Feast: December 8
SaintSt. Valerius of Trier

tomb in the abbey church

Feast: January 29
Sacred objectRelics traditionally identified with St. Matthias the Apostle

Tomb and bodily remains · Longstanding ecclesial tradition

Access follows the abbey’s worship and visitor schedule.

What to notice

Look closely at the place and its story

01

The Apostle chosen in Acts

Pray at Matthias’s traditional crypt tomb and meditate on hidden fidelity.

02

Trier’s first bishops

Honor Eucharius and Valerius beside the apostolic shrine.

03

A living Benedictine pilgrimage

Encounter an ancient cult sustained by monastery, parish, and walking brotherhoods.

Feasts, anniversaries & celebrations

Feast of St. Valerius of TrierConnected to this place through tomb in the abbey church.
Feast of Saint Matthias the ApostleConfirm the abbey’s current pilgrimage and liturgical program.
Feast of St. Eucharius of TrierConnected to this place through tomb in the abbey church.

How to read this page

Sources, tradition, and what is verified

Source trail2 cited catalog sources

The destination record was last checked on 9/27/2026.

Editorial standard

This page records the site’s tradition as “Roman Catholic Benedictine abbey and traditional apostolic tomb.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.