Cologne Cathedral: Final Resting Place Of Historical Figures

The Cologne Cathedral, officially known as the St. Peter and Mary Cathedral, is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Germany. It is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and houses the tombs of several archbishops and other important figures from the medieval period. The cathedral is most famous for being the final resting place of the Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Biblical Magi. According to tradition, the shrine within the cathedral holds the bones of the Biblical Magi, who followed the star of Bethlehem to Jesus' manger. The cathedral also contains various other works of art, including the sarcophagus of Archbishop Gero and his 1,000-year-old Gero Cross.

The Shrine of the Three Kings

The shrine was built between 1180 and 1225 by the renowned medieval goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun. It is adorned with intricate gold sculptures and decorations that depict scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Three Kings. The shrine is shaped like a basilica, with two sarcophagi standing next to each other and a third sarcophagus resting on their roof ridges. The basic structure is made of wood, with gold and silver overlay decorated with filigree, enamel, and over 1,000 jewels and beads.

The relics of the Three Kings were first brought to Constantinople by Empress Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, and then to Milan in 314 by the city's bishop, Eustorgius I. In 1164, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics from Milan and gave them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, who transferred them to Cologne. The construction of the present Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 to house these important relics, and it took 632 years to complete.

On July 20, 1864, the shrine was opened and human remains, along with coins from the time of Archbishop Philip I, were found inside. The bones were then returned to the shrine. The shrine has undergone several periods of damage and restoration throughout its history, with the last restoration taking place between 1961 and 1973 after it was removed during World War II.

Archbishops of Cologne

The Kölner Dom, or Cologne Cathedral, is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Mary and is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The cathedral houses the tombs of 12 archbishops, interred between 976 and 1612 AD. More recent archbishops are interred in the basilica's subterranean vaults.

One of the most notable archbishops of Cologne was Rainald von Dassel, who served from 1159 to 1167. In 1164, he brought the relics of the Three Kings (the Biblical Magi) to the cathedral from Milan, which made it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe. The Shrine of the Three Kings, located behind the high altar, is an impressive work of medieval gold craftsmanship and is said to contain the bones of Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, the city patrons of Cologne.

Another notable archbishop of Cologne was Gero, who served from 969 to 976. His tomb can be found in the cathedral and features the 1,000-year-old Gero Cross, made of golden oak.

Other archbishops of Cologne include Engelbert II of Berg, Engelbert III of the Mark, Clemens August of Bavaria, Ferdinand of Bavaria, Anton Hubert Fischer, Johannes von Geissel, Heinrich I von Müllenark, Herman II, Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, Philip I, and Ferdinand August von Spiegel.

German Romantic movement

The construction of the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, began in 1248 and was completed in 1880. The cathedral is dedicated to St. Peter and Mary and is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. It is home to the tombs of 12 archbishops, interred between 976 and 1612 AD, with more recent archbishops buried in the basilica's subterranean vaults.

The completion of the cathedral in the 19th century was influenced by the German Romantic movement, which was a revolt against material progress and industrialization. The movement, which emerged towards the end of the 18th century, valued the unknown, the mysterious, and the supernatural, placing artistic transgression and emotion above reason and beauty. German Romantics sought communion with nature, a return to the countryside, and a longing for a lost, idyllic past. They repudiated economic trade, industrialization, and life in big cities, seeing them as a dehumanization of individuals.

The German Romantic movement was influenced by the Enlightenment, which valued reason over religion, and the advent of capitalism. Romantics reacted against these developments, idealizing the countryside and the past. They turned to nature, which represented a time before the constraints of capitalism. This is reflected in Romantic literary and artistic works, where nature is depicted as both idyllic and peaceful, as well as tumultuous and terrifying.

The movement had a significant impact on music, with Ludwig van Beethoven emerging as one of the most famous composers. His compositions convey intensity and violence, expressing a revolt against classical and baroque norms and society's norms.

German Romantic literature also featured characters who embodied the values of the movement, such as tumultuous emotions, a refusal to conform to societal norms, and a need to transgress. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is considered the most important author of this movement, with his work "The Sorrows of Young Werther" serving as an example of the Romantic hero.

The Gero Crucifix

The crucifix is made of oak, painted, and partially gilded, with the original halo and cross-pieces still intact. The Baroque surround was added at a later date, in 1683. The Gero Crucifix has undergone restoration to preserve its vibrant colours, and its structure remains faithful to the original design. It currently hangs in its own chapel near the sacristy, known as the Gero Cross Chapel.

The Domschatzkammer (Treasury)

The Domschatzkammer, or Cathedral Treasury, is located in the Romanesque cloister of the Dom St Peter. It is home to a rich collection of church treasures, including paintings, sculptures, reliquaries, and textiles, that date from the 4th to the 18th centuries. The treasury showcases works of art made from gold, silver, bronze, and ivory. These include holy relics, liturgical items, textiles, insignias of archbishops, sculptures from the Middle Ages, and Franconian grave finds.

The Cathedral Treasury is situated in the 13th-century underground vaults on the north side of the Cologne Cathedral. It was reconstructed following World War II, during which the cathedral suffered severe damage from air raids. Despite the extensive bombing, the cathedral remained standing, though it required significant restoration and reconstruction work.

The Cologne Cathedral, officially known as Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus or Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Mary and is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. The cathedral is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting around 6 million people annually.

The foundation stone of the Gothic Cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248, during the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The construction of the cathedral spanned centuries and was completed according to its original medieval plan in 1880. The cathedral is known for its impressive Gothic architecture, with its twin spires making it the tallest twin-spired church in the world.

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