Women's Festival at Helfta Monastery

Helfta — a place of medieval women's spirituality

The Cistercian monastery of St. Mary in Helfta near Lutherstadt Eisleben in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz (Saxony-Anhalt) is one of the most spiritually significant places in Central Germany. In the 13th century, a unique school of female mysticism flourished here — Mechthild of Magdeburg, Mechthild of Hackeborn, and above all Gertrude the Great of Helfta, one of the most important Christian mystics of the Middle Ages, shaped European theological history from here. Today, Helfta is once again a living monastery with a Cistercian convent and a dense program of educational and spiritual events.

The Women's Festival — A Tradition for Three Decades

For almost 30 years, the Diocese of Magdeburg, together with Helfta Monastery, has invited women to the annual Women's Festival — a day event that brings together women from Saxony-Anhalt and neighboring federal states for spirituality, exchange, and community. It is a festival of women's theology that picks up on the medieval Helfta tradition and translates it into the present.

Motto 2026: "Don't let yourself become hardened!"

The 2026 motto sets a clear focus: In view of societal and political hardening — a particularly relevant topic in Saxony-Anhalt just a few months before the state elections in 2026 — the festival asks how women can remain vibrant and sensitive in an increasingly difficult world. It is a deliberately socio-politically tinged motto, not merely a meditative day seminar.

Program — Workshops, Discussions, Service

The day begins at 9:30 AM with arrival and at 10:00 AM with the morning prayer. This is followed by a thematic introduction. In two workshop sessions in the morning and afternoon, in-depth discussion formats are offered — including an exchange with Bishop Dr. Gerhard Feige on the socio-political situation in Saxony-Anhalt before the state elections. Another session reflects on 25 years of the Diocese's women's pastoral care. Between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM is the lunch break. At 3:00 PM, the joint closing service with Bishop Feige and musical accompaniment by the pop choir Yoshua from Halle concludes the day.

Who Attends?

The Women's Festival appeals to women of all ages and various religious affiliations. It is a Catholic-rooted festival but open to ecumenical participation. Even those who are not strictly affiliated with the church will find a place for reflection and exchange here — shaped by the special atmosphere of a living monastery.

Helfta Today

The Monastery of St. Mary in Helfta was resettled after reunification — Cistercian nuns live here again today, the monastery church has been restored, and the library and guesthouse are open. Those traveling here should combine their visit with a trip to the monastery complex and Lutherstadt Eisleben (birthplace and deathplace of Martin Luther) — both UNESCO World Heritage sites or of high cultural-historical significance.