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After almost 900 years since its founding by French Abbot Bernhard of Clairvaux in 1134, the Cistercian Himmerod Abbey in western Germany will soon close its doors for good.
The decision was made by the Mehrerau Congregation, a worldwide association of Cistercian monasteries based near Salzburg, Austria. The abbey is a direct subordinate of the Holy See and not part of the Archdiocese of Salzburg.
Himmerod Abbey narrowly avoided bankruptcy six years ago, but high maintenance costs and dwindling numbers of religious have made it impossible to keep the site open. Abbot Johannes, who heads the monastery, said the financial burden of operating Himmerod, which currently only has six monks, led to the decision. The abbey will now be transferred into the possession of the Diocese of Trier, which has yet to say what it plans to do with the space.
The abbot said the six monks currently residing at Himmerod, which is in the German Eifel region, will be given the opportunity to move to the monastery of their choice. The fate of others working at the site, however, remains unclear.
German monastery Himmerod to close its doors after nearly nine centuries | News | DW | 14.10.2017
I wonder who the six monks are and where they will be going.
The decision was made by the Mehrerau Congregation, a worldwide association of Cistercian monasteries based near Salzburg, Austria. The abbey is a direct subordinate of the Holy See and not part of the Archdiocese of Salzburg.
Himmerod Abbey narrowly avoided bankruptcy six years ago, but high maintenance costs and dwindling numbers of religious have made it impossible to keep the site open. Abbot Johannes, who heads the monastery, said the financial burden of operating Himmerod, which currently only has six monks, led to the decision. The abbey will now be transferred into the possession of the Diocese of Trier, which has yet to say what it plans to do with the space.
The abbot said the six monks currently residing at Himmerod, which is in the German Eifel region, will be given the opportunity to move to the monastery of their choice. The fate of others working at the site, however, remains unclear.
German monastery Himmerod to close its doors after nearly nine centuries | News | DW | 14.10.2017
I wonder who the six monks are and where they will be going.
