The unfinished Cologne Cathedral in 1855.
The Mediæval Crane was still in place, while
construction for the Nave had been resumed in 1814.
Bau des Doms, Köln, 1855 Salzpapier.
Photo: 1855.
Source:
Author: Johannes Franciscus Michiels.
(Wikimedia Commons)
English:
Deutsch:
Photo: 18 August 2017.
Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.
Author: H. Zell.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Copilot.
German Religious terminology is a whole eco-system, and, once you see how the pieces fit, the language becomes much clearer.
Kloster.
A Kloster is the most general term: A Monastery.
Characteristics.
• A Community of Monks or Nuns.
• Members live under a Monastic Rule (e.g., Benedictine, Cistercian, etc).
• The building complex is called Kloster, regardless of size or rank.
• Can be led by:
• An Abt/Äbtissin (if it’s an Abtei);
• Or, a Prior/Prioress (if it’s a Priory).
Think of Kloster as the umbrella term for Monastic life.
A Kloster is the most general term: A Monastery.
Characteristics.
• A Community of Monks or Nuns.
• Members live under a Monastic Rule (e.g., Benedictine, Cistercian, etc).
• The building complex is called Kloster, regardless of size or rank.
• Can be led by:
• An Abt/Äbtissin (if it’s an Abtei);
• Or, a Prior/Prioress (if it’s a Priory).
Think of Kloster as the umbrella term for Monastic life.
English:
Maria Laach Abbey, a perfect example of Rhineland Romanesque; built mainly between 1130 and 1156.
Deutsch:
Polski:
Opactwo Maria Laach - wodok na kościół.
Photo: 16 September 2007.
Source: Own work transferred from de.wikipedia
(Original text: selbst fotografiert) Benton, Janetta
Rebold (2002) Art of the Middle Ages, World of Art,
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.
Attribution: Goldi64.
Author: Goldi64 at German Wikipedia
(Wikimedia Commons)
A Domstift is a Cathedral Chapter — a Community of Canons attached to a Cathedral (Dom).
Characteristics.
• Members are Domherren (Canons), often Clergy of high status.
• Historically powerful: They elected Bishops, managed Cathedral lands, and advised Rulers.
• Not Monastic; Canons did not take Monastic Vows.
• The Church is a Dom, but the Institution is the Domstift.
So a Domstift is a Stift specifically tied to a Cathedral.
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Weltenburg Abbey High Altar.
Photo: 1 July 2012.Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.
Author: Mattana
(Wikimedia Commons)
English: Lady Chapel, Kelheim Kloster, Weltenburg.
Deutsch: Kelheim Kloster Weltenburg. Frauenbergkapelle.
Photo: 8 March 2011.
Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.
Author: Holz85
(Wikimedia Commons)
A Stiftskirche is the Church belonging to a Stift.
Characteristics.
• The building used by the Canons or Canonesses of a Stift.
• Not necessarily a Cathedral.
• Often large and richly endowed.
A Stiftskirche is to a Stift what a Cathedral is to a Bishopric.
English: Benedictine Monastery Church,
Ettal, Bavaria, Germany.
Deutsch: Klosterkirche von Ettal.
Photo: 19 September 2025.
Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
3.0 Germany licence.
Author: User:Mateus2019
(Wikimedia Commons)
Stift (expanded).
As mentioned earlier, a Stift is a Foundation with a Religious purpose, but not necessarily Monastic.
Types of Stifte.
• Domstift — Cathedral Chapter.
• Kollegiatstift — Collegiate Chapter (Canons living communally).
• Fräuleinstift — a Foundation for noblewomen (Canonesses), often without strict Vows.
• Hochstift — a Territory ruled by a Prince-Bishop (the Stift became a State).
A Stift is about organisation and property, not Monastic discipline.
The former Imperial Abbey of Zwiefalten in 1890. Most Imperial Abbeys belonged to the Benedictine Order.
Zwiefalten, Ort und Kloster.
Photo: 1890.
Source: Eingescannt aus: Wolfgang Hesse: Ansichten aus Schwaben; Kunst, Land und Leute in Aufnahmen der ersten Tübinger Lichtbildner und des Fotografen Paul Sinner (1838 - 1925); Verlag Gebr. Metz, Tübingen, 1989.
Author: Paul Sinner (1838–1925).
(Wikimedia Commons)
Abtei (expanded).
An Abtei is a full Monastery with the rank of an Abbey.
Characteristics.
• Always Monastic.
• Led by an Abt or Äbtissin.
• Often part of an Order (Benedictine, Cistercian, Premonstratensian, etc).
• Higher status than a simple Kloster.
Every Abtei is a Kloster, but not every Kloster is an Abtei.
Characteristics.
• Always Monastic.
• Led by an Abt or Äbtissin.
• Often part of an Order (Benedictine, Cistercian, Premonstratensian, etc).
• Higher status than a simple Kloster.
Every Abtei is a Kloster, but not every Kloster is an Abtei.
Consider carefully. Read. Remember. Digest.
Questions will be asked.
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