Servaas is home again, in his treasury in Maastricht

As of Sunday, April 28, the medieval reliquary bust of Saint Servatius, after more than 1.5 years, it will again be on public display in the treasure room of St. Servatius' Basilica in Maastricht. The reliquary bust, a Bust, has undergone a major restoration and shines again as of old. A new display case was also built especially for the Bust so that it can be admired from all sides. The bust belongs to the top of medieval objects in the Netherlands and Europe.

Restoration

The medieval bust with the skull of Saint Servatius from the 4th century was extensively researched, conserved and restored by an international team of conservators led by SRAL, Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg. It was a complex operation that had been prepared in detail. The statue was first viewed with X-ray equipment and scanned by staff at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Then the various components of the precious metal were analyzed. Based on the outcome of the examination, the restoration was carried out.

For example, missing parts were restored, and the discolored varnish on the face was also removed and replaced. The Bust, which had not been treated since the 1950s, also underwent a meticulous cleaning process in which no abrasive agents were used. Furthermore, “the tassels” of Saint Servatius' mitre, which have caused scuffs over many years, have been fitted with invisible protective sleeves to prevent future damage.

1,000 years of treasury

The church treasure of Saint Servatius Basilica has been in the Romanesque double-chapel for 1,000 years. In the past, the relics were shown to the people on Vrijthof from the gallery between the two towers. Today, the treasury is open to the public.

The extensive collection begins as early as the 4th century with the arrival of Saint Servatius in Maastricht. The collection of holy relics in various containers has since been expanded with special devotional objects, liturgical objects and other works of art which made a treasury necessary.

The conservation of the Bust is part of a phased conservation of the entire Protected Collection of St. Servatius Basilica in Maastricht. With the support of donations from individuals, funds and sponsors, work is underway. The Saint Servatius Basilica (an ANBI) desperately needs financial support to maintain the centuries-old monumental basilica and the Protected Collection. Individuals can enjoy tax benefits with an ANBI donation.

Pilgrimage

The special Bust, a devotional object, dating in part from 1403 has been the object of veneration by pilgrims from all corners of the world for centuries. They still visit the original tomb of Saint Servatius in the crypt and the Emergency Chest with the bones of the Maastricht city patron. With the return of the restored Bust, Servaas is now 'quite at home' again.

The Bust of Saint Servatius also plays an important role in Maastricht's intangible heritage: as one of the four city devotions, it is carried every year on the Sunday after Saint Servatius Day by members of the Guild of Saint Servatius in the Maastricht City Procession. This will happen again for the first time on Sunday, May 19.

It also happens during the seven-yearly Heiligdomsvaart. The next Heiligdomsvaart Maastricht will be festively opened in September 2024 and will last until summer 2025.