St. John's Church, Mainz

Archaeological excavations are currently taking place in the church, some of which can be visited spontaneously and free of charge. The whole thing is exciting and sometimes even the archaeologists are available to answer questions. A sarcophagus and ax from the Stone Age have even been found here. There are also antique tiles and columns. As is so often the case when construction is taking place in Mainz.

A beautiful historic church, one of the oldest. Unfortunately, due to renovation partly open to visitors.

the deeper you dig, the older it gets: in the end they'll still find Adam and Eve's grave. It's just a shame that no viewing is possible - it may be understandable.

Very nice church. At the moment there are still renovations or excavations taking place. The church is only open on certain days and times.

The St. John's Church is the oldest church in Mainz, after Trier Cathedral, the second oldest preserved bishop's church on German soil and the only surviving cathedral from Merovingian, late Carolingian and Early Hellenic times in Germany. Since its consecration in 910 until the consecration of Mainzer Dome 1036, which was located further east, it was the episcopal church of the Archdiocese of Mainz and was therefore later also called Aldeduom (Old Cathedral). Historians, however, assume an organized congregation headed by a bishop by the middle of the fourth century. The first confirmed reference to a larger Christian community in Mogontiacum dates back to the year 368. At the same time, the existence of a bishop's church is assumed, which was probably in the area of ​​today's St. John's Church. It is relatively certain that this church can not have been under the present Domgelände. Under the nearby church St. Johannis brought excavations in the years 1905 and 1950/51 u. a. Foundations of a late Roman structure. The possible date of origin of the episcopal or at least larger church was considered to be the period after 350 and before 368. Archbishop Hatto I rebuilt the then cathedral from around 900 and consecrated it in 910. This makes it one of the oldest cathedral buildings in Germany after Trier Cathedral. Hatto's building, with later additions, is the Johanniskirche, which passed to us in the 20th century. This church was first dedicated as a cathedral church of the Diocese of Mainz to St. Martin of Tours. After 975, Archbishop Willigis had a new cathedral built east of the existing cathedral, the new Mainz Cathedral. The new building was consecrated in 1036 also to Saint Martin. All the furnishings and benefices of the cathedral chapter were transferred from the old cathedral, which in the following centuries was called Aldedu (o) m, or Old Cathedral, to the new church. After the consecration of the new building in the Old Cathedral a canonist was established. It was not until the year 1128 that the patronage of John the Baptist was recorded in writing for the Old Cathedral, but it is likely to have been established as early as 1036. Finally, a double patronage is to be considered: the Hatto building of 910 was equipped with two choirs, each with an altar, which - as in Mainz Cathedral - also had to be dedicated to two different saints.