Saint Servatius - Churches of Saint Servatius

Churches of Saint Servatius

Servatius may have been the founder of two early Christian churches in the Maastricht-Tongeren diocese: the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren, and the Basilica of Our Lady in Maastricht. In the case of Tongeren this traditional claim was supported by excavations in the 1980s, when under the medieval church remains of a 4th century church were identified. Other historic churches in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany were dedicated to the saint, e.g. the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht, the Abbey of Saint Servatius in Grimbergen, and the collegiate church of Saint Servatius in Quedlinburg . In Maastricht, the Orthodox Church belonging to the Russian Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (http://destem-maastricht.nl/), is dedicated to the Saints Servatius and John Chrysostom.

According to tradition the saint's remains are buried in the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht in a crypt dating from the 6th century. His tomb in the crypt has been a favored place of pilgrimage for many centuries. Famous visitors include Charlemagne and Pope John Paul II. The 12th century gilded reliquary containing the saint's relics became known as the Noodkist ("Distress Chest") because in times of calamity it was carried around town. A procession with the reliquary shrine still takes place every seven years (Heiligdomsvaart). The "Noodkist" is normally kept in the basilica's treasury, along with other treasures that are associated with the saint (the crozier, a pectoral cross, a chalice, and a symbolic key to heaven).