St Martin’s Church and its patron
The buildings which once surrounded St Martin’s chapter church have largely disappeared today. It is a three-aisled transeptless pillar basilica with a straight-ended choir. The church has many typical architectural features of the 12th to 15th centuries. It is the tomb of the once influential Kämmerer family, known as the von Dalberg family, whose estates were situated in the neighbourhood of the church, in today’s Kämmererstraße.
; "image: Southeast view of St Martin’s church.")
Church jail … St Martin’s church is said to be the place where St Martin was incarcerated.
St Martin incarcerated in Worms
Legend has it that there was a dungeon in the basilica, where St Martin was incarcerated in 357 since he had refused to fight in a battle for Emperor Julian.
The legend of St Martin
Around the year 338, Martin was deployed as a soldier in Amiens, France, in the cavalry of the Emperor’s Guard. The cavalry’s soldiers wore armour, a ridge helmet, a shield, a sword and a chlamys, a white cloak consisting of two parts, lined in the upper segments with sheepskin.
; "image: St Martin sharing his cloak with the beggar.")
Soldier with a heart … St Martin sharing his cloak with the beggar.
; "image: The tower of St Martin’s church.")
Towering … the basilica features typical 12th- to 15th-century architecture.
St Martin’s time in Worms
When the Alamanni tribe invade Gaul, the Romans massed an army on the Rhine. Their camp near Worms was to be the place where Martin, the Christian guards officer, and Emperor Julian, had their decisive encounter. History later called Julian “the Apostate” since he was opposed to Christianity and wanted to turn his soldiers against it.
As it was customary at that time, the Caesar called the soldiers forward, one by one to reward them with a sum, a so-called donative. When it was Martin’s turn, he seized the opportunity to seek his discharge from the army. As a Christian, he did not feel entitled to fight with a weapon and cause bloodshed, so he did not want to accept a reward either. He said to the Emperor: “I have always served you as a soldier. Allow me now to become a soldier to God. Let the man who is to serve you receive thy money. I am the soldier of Christ. It is not lawful for me to fight.”
The emperor raged with fury and barked at Martin: “You are afraid of the battle, and not from any religious feeling.” But Martin replied with courage and resolve: “If you think that cowardice, and not faith, is the reason for my conduct, I will tomorrow take my stand unarmed before the battle line, and in the name of the Lord Jesus, protected by the sign of the cross, and not by shield or helmet, I will break through the enemy’s ranks safely.”
The Emperor had him imprisoned to expose him to the enemy the next day. But before this could happen, the Alamannic ambassadors appeared and offered their surrender to the Emperor.
Today, Martinmas (11 November) is still observed in Worms with lantern processions, bonfires and re-enactments.
Martinmas goose and lanterns
Legend has it that in 371 Martin was to be appointed bishop in the French city of Tours. But his plans were different, so he hid away in a goose coop. The citizens of Tours tried to trace him, using lanterns and maybe singing songs. This is said to be the origin of the processions. The geese’s honking revealed that Martin was in the coop, so he finally had to accept his appointment. This event is said to have taken place on 11 November.
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