Current exhibition
Welcome to the opening exhibition of the Paulus Museum. Our namesake is Saint Paul, the patron saint of our cathedral and diocese. He plays a significant role for the cathedral and for the city of Münster. In Germany, Münster Cathedral is the only bishop's church whose sole patron is the Apostle Paul.
Duration
27 August 2026 – 30 May 2027
Location
Alter Steinweg 3, 48143 Münster
Admission
free
Guided tours and workshops available for a fee
Opening hours
Mon–Sat, 12 noon–6 pm
By arrangement for groups from 10 am
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
closed on 22 September 2026
In seven sections of the exhibition, we therefore focus on the Apostle Paul (*born before 10 AD in Tarsus, Cilicia; †after 60 AD, presumably in Rome). He is one of the most important early Christian missionaries, even though he never met Jesus during his lifetime. We explain who Paul was, what he believed, and how his influence continues to this day.
The life of Jesus is recorded in four accounts: the Gospels. All the Gospels mention a special circle of people who accompanied Jesus. This circle consists of twelve men, the Apostles. Jesus chose them from among a larger group of disciples. Paul was not one of them.
The main source of information about Paul’s life is the Acts of the Apostles. According to this account, Paul came from Tarsus, a trading and port city in what is now Turkey. With a population of 300,000, it was roughly the same size as present-day Münster. Tarsus was the capital of a Roman province. Cultural influences came from Greece and the Near East. The author Strabo (c. 63 BC – after 23 AD) highlights the high level of education and the role of philosophy and rhetoric in the city.
Paul is travelling with a retinue from Jerusalem to Damascus. Following the death of Stephen, he intends to persecute the followers of Christ there. Suddenly, he is blinded by a dazzling light. He falls to the ground and hears a voice that engages him in a dialogue: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ – ‘Who are you, Lord?’ – “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4–5). Thereupon, the blinded Paul is led to Damascus. He meets a man named Ananias. Ananias also has a vision and is sent to Paul by the voice of Jesus. Ananias lays his hands on Paul, whereupon Paul regains his sight.
How do you set off when you don’t yet know your destination? How do you find your bearings when your life as you knew it has been turned upside down? And how does an experience become a new beginning?
Paul’s calling marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
Together with Barnabas, he is sent out by the church in Antioch. From there, he sets out on three major missionary journeys.
Paul played a decisive role in the spread of the Christian movement. During his missionary work, he proclaimed an idea that was groundbreaking at the time: faith in Christ is open to all people. No one should be excluded on the basis of their background, language or religious tradition.
Paul returns to Jerusalem on his third missionary journey. There he becomes embroiled in a serious conflict and is arrested. He is accused of unlawfully bringing a non-Jew into the Temple. As a Roman citizen, Paul asserts his right to have the case brought before the Emperor.
Paul is not a lone preacher. He is part of a network and, at the same time, its driving force. Some people accompany him on his journeys, whilst others support him locally. His message spreads over great distances. It reaches towns and communities across a wide variety of cultures..
How do we know all this about Paul? His original letters have been lost. But we have early copies, which are the oldest textual sources of the New Testament. They tell of journeys and theological debates. But which texts are missing? Who copied them, selected them and recognised them as part of the biblical text? And how do texts survive for centuries across different languages and cultures?
Münster Cathedral has an unusual patron saint. It is the only cathedral in Germany to be placed under the sole patronage of the Apostle Paul. The first recorded reference to this patronage dates back to the year 889. For that time, this choice was unusual. Only two bishoprics in the Christian world of that era had previously chosen Paul as their patron saint.
Audio and visual
116 / 5.000Discover Paul, his story, and selected objects from the cathedral treasury in nine short chapters. (German, English, Dutch)
Digital
Accompany Paul on his (missionary) journeys through the Roman Empire. His travel diary can also be found in the exhibition (German).
Münster
St. Paul is the patron of the cathedral in Münster. It also bears his name: St.-Paulus-Dom. A typical way of depicting…
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This shard is a rim fragment of an ancient round cut-glass bowl. Motifs are carved into the glass surface by grinding…
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Gerhard Gröninger (design and sculptural work, painted finish of the reliefs)
This altar wing is normally located in the cathedral. It is part of the former high altar. Shown here is the left…
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Angelica Kauffmann after Guido Reni
The depiction shows Peter and Paul in conversation. Only at second glance does it become clear that they are in…
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Volker Hermes
Paulus wird als Gefangener von Cäsarea nach Rom gebracht. Er weiß auf der Fahrt sein Schicksal in Gottes Händen. Auf…
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Phoebe is described in the Letter to the Romans as a deaconess and supporter of the early Christians in Corinth (Rom…
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Northwestern Germany
The bust of Paul is the oldest Paul reliquary in the cathedral. At the same time, it is the oldest surviving bust…
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This wooden bust of the saint was created roughly midway in time between the golden and the silver bust of St. Paul in…
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Guided tours
Information on dates, bookings and languages
Register at paulus@bistum-muenster.de
Workshops
Activities for school groups,
other groups and individuals of all ages.
Funded by
