Maternus of Cologne

Saint Maternus was the first known bishop of Cologne, according to tradition also the third bishop of Trier, the founder of the diocese of Tongeren. He fell asleep around 328. He is venerated by the Catholic and the Orthodox Church, and commemorated on 14 September.

According to Eusebius, Bishop Maternus lived in the time of the Donatist controversy. In May 313 he was summoned to Rome by the emperor Constantine, with other bishops, to examine the case of Bishop Caecilian of Carthage, and in 314 he took part in the synod of Arles. Until the discovery of the silver inscription at Frankfurt (between 230 and 270), his participation in the synod of Rome in 313 was the earliest reliable evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. He is regarded as the first apostle of Alsace and promoted the spread of Christianity in that province and in western Germany.

According to legend, he was a follower of Saint Eucharius, the first bishop of Trier. Peter is said to have sent Eucharius to Gaul as bishop, with the deacon Valerius and the subdeacon Maternus. They reached the Rhine and Ellelum in Alsace, where Maternus died. The two companions hurried back to Peter and begged him to raise him. Peter gave his staff to Eucharius and, touched with it, Maternus, who had lain in the grave forty days, returned to life. Many pagans were converted. After founding many churches the three came to Trier, where Eucharius chose his see. Maternus assisted Valerius fifteen years, then succeeded him as bishop of Trier for forty years. While assisting Valerius he had already founded the dioceses of Cologne and Tongeren, and a church on the site of a Roman temple, from which the cathedral of Cologne later grew. The staff of Saint Peter was kept at Cologne until the end of the tenth century, when its upper half was given to Trier. The legend, from the ninth century, seems meant to prove the antiquity of the see of Trier over the other German dioceses. His relics were given to the cathedral of Trier around 760. He is regarded as protector and healer of those sick with fever and of vintners.