New era for the Cistercians: Congregation homepage launched!

New era for the Cistercians: Congregation homepage launched!

On June 27, 2022, a new chapter in the history of the Cistercians was opened: the founding of the Cistercian Congregation of Saint Gertrude the Great. Like that Diocese of Dresden-Meißen reports, the new congregation brings together four traditional monasteries: St. Marienthal, St. Marienstern, Langwaden Monastery and St. Marien zu Helfta. An uplifting step that ties together the centuries-long history of these institutions. In March 2025, Seligenthal Abbey joined as the fifth member, thereby enriching the community.

The newly founded congregation also recently launched its own homepage, which provides interesting insights into the history and current news about the monasteries. Stop by gertruddiegrosse.de – there is a lot to discover!

A view of St. Marienstern Monastery

The St. Marienstern Monastery, located in Panschwitz-Kuckau in the Dresden-Meißen diocese, can look back on an impressive history that dates back to 1248. Founded by Bernard II of Vesta and his family, this monastery is a living testimony of faith and tradition. Since its founding it has belonged to the Cistercian Congregation and is still active Wikipedia determines.

Today the convent consists of ten nuns who dedicate themselves to the Liturgy of the Hours, pastoral care and various social tasks, such as caring for people with disabilities. Abbess Gabriela Hesse has been in charge of the monastery since 2018 and ensures that tradition and modern monastic life go hand in hand.

Historical context

In the past, Saxony was a true monastery landscape with over 80 monasteries, and the Altzella monastery was one of the richest among them. Founded around 1170, Altzella developed into a center of power for the Cistercian order, which owned rich lands and an important library. It was only during the Reformation that the monastery was dissolved in 1540, which made the supposedly indestructible power fragile. Today, historical buildings are often only found in ruins historical-sachsen.net documented.

The continuation of the tradition in the form of the new Congregation of St. Gertrude shows that the Cistercian Order is still alive in the 21st century and is oriented to the challenges of the time. St. Marienstern, with its revealing monastic furnishings and important relics, is firmly anchored in the cultural life of the region.

From the monastery church to the monastery garden to a monastery museum, visitors have the opportunity to delve deep into centuries-old history while experiencing the current community that cares about both its tradition and social responsibility.

You see, monasteries like St. Marienstern are more than just historical buildings - they are living places that build a bridge between the past and the present and will continue to play an important role in people's lives in the future.