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Dormition Abbey > Our Community > History of Our Community |
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History of the Dormition Abbey / Dormition Abbey In October 1898 whilst travelling through the Middle East the German Emperor Wilhelm II acquired a plot of land on Mount Zion from the Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid. This plot of land was handed over to the "German Association for the Holy Land" "for the benefit of German Catholics". This was the basis for the erection of a Benedictine monastery, initially called "Dormitio Mariae". The first monks arrived on Mount Zion in 1906. The church was dedicated on 10th April 1910. Life in the monastery continued uninterrupted during the First World War but in November 1919 most of the monks had to leave because of internment and Belgian Benedictines took their place. In 1921 the German Benedictines were finally able to return. The years that followed were some of the most quiet and peaceful on Mount Zion when the community of monks grew to 40 brothers. Until 1932 the Benedictines also looked after the seminary at Beit Jalla. On the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in 1926 the monastery became an abbey. Prior Fr. Maurus Kaufmann OSB became the first abbot of the Dormition Abbey. At the beginning of the Second World War all Germans in the Holy Land including most of the monks in the Dormition Abbey were interned; towards the end of the war they were allowed to return to Mount Zion. 1948 was a very difficult year for the Abbey. First there was a fire caused by lightening resulting in extensive damage. On 30th May the monks were evacuated because of political tension following the division of Palestine and the foundation of the State of Israel. Abbot Maurus Kaufmann OSB died during the evacuation. The Benedictines were not allowed to return until February 1951. During the war the Abbey had been badly damaged. After the armistice Mount Zion had become a Israeli military zone on the border of no-mans-land. In 1951 the Abbey was separated from the Benedictine congregation in Beuron and placed directly under the Abbot Primate. Fr. Leo von Rudloff OSB was made administrator and became Abbot of the Dormition Abbey in 1952. He founded a priory in Weston / Vermont to provide material and personnel support for the Dormition Abbey. In 1967 the Abbey was once again affected by the war. In the following year the Priory Weston separated from the Dormition Abbey; Abbot Leo returned to Weston where he died in 1982. After a visitation in 1969 the former Abbot of St. Matthias / Trier, Dr. Laurentius Klein OSB was appointed administrator of the Dormition Abbey. His work reflected a strong personal commitment to the enhancement of ecumenical relationships between Christian denominations and also to the trialogue among the three monotheistic religions. This he considered to be one of the most important roles of the Abbey on Mount Zion. He was the founder of the Theological Academic Year and its director for many years. In 1998 at the end of the 25th Academic Year and after his 70th birthday Fr. Laurentius returned to St. Matthias. In 1979, following the retirement of Fr. Laurentius the Benedictine Community on Mount Zion elected for the first time their own abbot, the former prior of the Priory Chevetogne in Belgium, Abbot Nikolaus Egender OSB. He continued the ecumenical work with particular emphasis on the Eastern churches. During his time as abbot the new Church of the Multiplication of Loaves in Tabgha was dedicated. The construction of this church had begun under Fr. Laurentius. The Centre for Youths and Handicapped at Tabgha also started during that time. Abbot Nikolaus Egender OSB was elected twice for eight years at the time. His period of office ended in 1995. In August 1995 his successor was elected: Abbot Benedikt
Lindemann OSB, previously novice master at the Abbey Königsmünster
in Meschede. His main concern is the spiritual renewal of the Benedictine
community whilst continuing, as far as possible, the ecumenical work,
activities for the enhancement of peace and the Theological Academic Year.
New members have joined the community since 1997 which has also increased
the opportunity for the Abbey to be involved in external work. |