St. Cross Basilica Wechselburg

The Romanesque basilica is part of the Benedictine Abbey of Wechselburg, a priory of the Ettal Abbey.
The atmosphere in the approximately 800-year-old walls by candlelight is always particularly moving. The monastery was founded in 1168 by Dedo von Rochlitz-Groitzsch as Augustinian monastery Zschillen, the construction of the basilica is estimated to the year 1200. Particularly interesting is the artful rood screen from the 13th century. After more than 400 years of interruption of monastic life since secularization, a new Benedictine monastery was founded in 1992 by members of the monastery Ettal.

Dedo von Rochlitz-Groitzsch founded the monastery, which was partially consecrated by Gerung (eastern part of the late Romanesque basilica) around 1168, as a house monastery. Monastery life according to the rules of St. Augustine began shortly after 1174. The first monks came from the Augustinian canon monastery at Petersberg Monastery near Halle. The completion of the construction of the three-aisled pillar basilica must be assumed around 1200. The convent buildings appear to have been built afterwards. Margrave Henry the Illustrious handed the monastery over to the Teutonic Order of Knights in 1278. In 1543 the monastery and all its possessions fell to Duke Moritz of Saxony, who immediately secularized it and exchanged it to the Lords of Schönburg for the towns of Hohnstein, Wehlen and Lohmen in what is now Saxon Switzerland. This is why the name Wechselburg came about for the place and the monastery complex. The Teutonic Order tried unsuccessfully to get the monastery back through legal proceedings until 1570.
Source: Wikipedia

Porphyry tuff (petrified lava ash) from Rochlitzer Berg was used for construction. A sign of the artistry of that time is the gallery column, carved out of a stone. The church is built as a three-aisled pillar basilica - high central nave and lower side aisles. The floor plan is in the shape of a cross. There was only a groined vault above the high choir and the gallery. The rest of the room had a flat ceiling.Benedictine monks have lived in Wechselburg since 1993. As a priory, you belong to the Ettal Benedictine Abbey.In addition to the daily praise of God, their tasks include pastoral care for visitors to the basilica and looking after guests in the holiday apartments and in the youth and family center.