Hildesheim Cathedral (German: '), officially the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (German: ''Hohe Domkirche St. Mariä Himmelfahrt'') or simply St. Mary's Cathedral (German: ''Mariendom''), is a medieval Roman Catholic
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
in the city centre of
Hildesheim
Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the L ...
, Germany, that serves as the seat of the
Diocese of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim (Latin: ''Dioecesis Hildesiensis'') is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheim ...
. The cathedral has been on the UNESCO
World Cultural Heritage
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
list since 1985, together with the nearby
St. Michael's Church because of its unique art and outstanding Romanesque architecture.
The cathedral church was built between 1010 and 1020 in the
Romanesque style
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this later ...
. It follows a symmetrical plan with two apses, that is characteristic of
Ottonian Romanesque architecture in
Old Saxony
"Old Saxony" is the original homeland of the Saxons. It corresponds roughly to the modern German states of Lower Saxony, eastern part of modern North Rhine-Westphalia state (Westphalia), Nordalbingia (Holstein, southern part of Schleswig-Holstein ...
. The cathedral's treasures include world-famous artworks, bronze works from the time of
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
Bernward
Bernward (c. 960 – 20 November 1022) was the thirteenth Bishop of Hildesheim from 993 until his death in 1022.
Life
Bernward came from a Saxon noble family. His grandfather was Athelbero, Count Palatine of Saxony. Having lost his parents at ...
,
Bernward Doors
The Bernward Doors (german: Bernwardstür) are the two leaves of a pair of Ottonian or Romanesque bronze doors, made for Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany. They were commissioned by Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (938–1022). The doors show r ...
and
Bernward Column
The Bernward Column (german: Bernwardssäule) also known as the Christ Column (german: Christussäule) is a bronze column, made for St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim, Germany, and regarded as a masterpiece of Ottonian art. It was commission ...
, as well as two of the four notable Romanesque
wheel chandelier
A wheel chandelier is a lighting installment, in the form of a chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the form of a spoked wheel. The oldest and most important examples derive from the Romanesque period.
Wheel chandeliers were made for the prac ...
s: the
Hezilo chandelier
The Hezilo chandelier (german: Heziloleuchter) is an 11th-century Romanesque wheel chandelier. It is part of the treasures of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, which has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1985. The cha ...
and the
Azelin chandelier.
After renovations and extensions in the 11th, 12th and 14th centuries, the cathedral was completely destroyed during an air raid on
22 March 1945 and rebuilt from 1950 to 1960. A thorough renovation of the cathedral began in 2010, including technical and conservation measures. Some of the cathedral's treasures have been shown further afield, including at an exhibition at New York's
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...
. The cathedral was reopened on 15 August 2014.
History
Construction
![Dom zu Hildesheim, Innenansicht](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Dom_zu_Hildesheim%2C_Innenansicht.jpg)
After the establishment of the
Diocese
In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...
of Hildesheim in 815 by
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
,
[.] a Chapel of St. Mary was built on the locations of the modern apse.
[.] Bishop
Gunthar of Hildesheim, who was in office from 815 to 834,
had a small basilica with two round towers built immediately to the south of the chapel, which he dedicated to
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia ( la, Sancta Caecilia), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman virgin martyr and is venerated in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, Orthodox, Anglican Communion, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She b ...
. This served as the original cathedral and
Stift
The term (; nl, sticht) is derived from the verb (to donate) and originally meant 'a donation'. Such donations usually comprised earning assets, originally landed estates with serfs defraying dues (originally often in kind) or with vassal tenan ...
church.
The first four bishops were buried there. Only traces of the foundations of these two buildings remain. An older Hildesheim parish church probably once stood on the site of the Chapel of
Saint Stephen
Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ''Stéphanos'', meaning "wreath, crown" and by extension "reward, honor, renown, fame", often given as a title rather than as a name; c. 5 – c. 34 AD) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first ...
next to the gatehouse at the eastern entrance to the chapel of St. Hellweg, which might date back to
Hildegrim of Châlons Hildegrim ( – 19 June 827) was Bishop of Châlons from 804 to 810 and the second abbot of Werden Abbey, after his elder brother Ludger, from 809 until his death.
Life
Like his brother Ludger, Hildegrim was of Christian Frisian noble descent. He ...
and his expedition to East Saxony.
The cathedral was built in 872 under Bishop
Altfrid
Saint Altfrid (or Altfrid of Hildesheim) (died 15 August 874) was a leading figure in Germany in the ninth century. A Benedictine monk, he became Bishop of Hildesheim, and founded Essen Abbey. He was also a close royal adviser to the East Frankis ...
as a cruciform three-aisled basilica with a two-story
westwork
A westwork (german: Westwerk), forepart, avant-corps or avancorpo is the monumental, often west-facing entrance section of a Carolingian, Ottonian, or Romanesque church. The exterior consists of multiple stories between two towers. The interio ...
.
It is an example of
Ottonian architecture
Ottonian architecture is an architectural style which evolved during the reign of Emperor Otto the Great. The style was found in Germany and lasted from the mid 10th century until the mid 11th century.
History
Ottonian architecture draws its inspi ...
, with
alternating column support and semi circular apses completing the naves.
The building suffered severe fire damage in 1046.
Bishop
Azelin
Azelin (before 1000 – 8 March 1054) was Bishop of Hildesheim from 1044 until 1054.
Azelin's origin is not known. He was appointed Bishop of Hildesheim by Emperor Henry III, succeeding Thietmar. During his tenure, the cathedral built by Altfr ...
planned to erect a new, larger building further to the west and to extend the nave. His successor,
Hezilo of Hildesheim Hezilo of Hildesheim,Thompson, James Westfall (1928). ''Feudal Germany'', University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Cambridge University Press, London, p. 206. also known as Hezelo, Hettilo or Ethilo (betw. 1020 and 1025–1079), was Bishop of Hildeshei ...
, abandoned this plan and instead built on the old foundations, incorporating the surviving walls into the new building. Further important renovations occurred up to the end of the fourteenth century but did not deviate from the ground plan of Bishop Altfrid's basilica. The northern paradise and the north and south side chapels date from the
gothic period
Gothic art was a style of medieval art that developed in Northern France out of Romanesque art in the 12th century AD, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, and much of Northern Europe, North ...
and the tower above the
crossing from the
baroque period
The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
. In the nineteenth century, the original westwork was replaced by a
Neo-Romanesque
Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to ...
two-tower facade, which stood until 1945.
School and library
Hildesheim Cathedral School (',
de), which had rooms in the cloisters, was one of the most significant educational institutions of the
Ottonian
The Ottonian dynasty (german: Ottonen) was a Saxon dynasty of German monarchs (919–1024), named after three of its kings and Holy Roman Emperors named Otto, especially its first Emperor Otto I. It is also known as the Saxon dynasty after the ...
and
Salian
The Salian dynasty or Salic dynasty (german: Salier) was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages. The dynasty provided four kings of Germany (1024–1125), all of whom went on to be crowned Holy Roman emperors (1027–1125).
After the death of the l ...
periods. Its library has served as the cathedral's library (
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
: ') since 815; it is the oldest library in Northern Germany.
File:Krypta815.2.jpg, Foundation of the first cathedral under the crypt dating from 815
File:Hildesheim Cathedral.North.Tower.JPG, Crossing and northern side chapels
File:Domkreuzgang.jpg, Cloister, built from 1060 to 1070
File:Hildesheim Domkreuzgang 1845.jpg, Cloister with St. Anne's Chapel,
File:Hildesheim Dom 1840.jpg, Westwork before 1840
File:Hildesheim Dom 1890.jpg, Neo-Romanesque westwork, 1890
File:Annenkapelle.jpg, Anne's chapel
File:Hildesheim Dom Heziloleuchter.jpg, Hezilo chandelier
The Hezilo chandelier (german: Heziloleuchter) is an 11th-century Romanesque wheel chandelier. It is part of the treasures of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, which has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1985. The cha ...
in the crossing, 2009
Destruction in the Second World War
During the
aerial bombardment of Hildesheim by the
RAF
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
and
RCAF
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environme ...
in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the main building was almost entirely destroyed; only the westwork and the outer walls survived.
Of the ancillary buildings, only the
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
Anne's chapel ('), erected in 1321 in the middle of the cathedral's courtyard,
was mostly undamaged. It was the only cathedral in Germany that had to be newly
consecrated
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...
after its reconstruction, on 27 March 1960 by Bishop Heinrich Maria Janssen.
![Mariendom_Hildesheim,_Westwerk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Mariendom_Hildesheim%2C_Westwerk.JPG)
The building was rebuilt between 1950 and 1960 in a simplified form. The baroque elements were abandoned in favour of a form which took its cue from the early Romanesque style.
The most visible aspect of this on the exterior was that upper stories, and side towers added to the westwork in 1840, were not restored. The westwork was reconstructed closer to its earlier state
[.] based on the model of the westwork of
Minden Cathedral, which had also been severely damaged by wartime bombing.
[.] In addition, the gatehouse in front of the westwork was reduced by about half. Otherwise, the exterior appeared as it had done before the destruction – in particular, the baroque crossing-tower was rebuilt.
The reconstruction was carried out under tight constraints. Because of the lack of
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
tiles, the floor was relaid in
marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite. Marble is typically not Foliation (geology), foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the ...
. The roofs of the nave, transept, and cloisters were cast in
concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wi ...
and covered with wooden boards on the inside to recall the appearance of ceiling beams. The interior walls, as well as the walls of the nave, were rebuilt in brick and
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
, hidden from view by a
dimension stone
Dimension stone is natural stone or rock that has been selected and finished (e.g., trimmed, cut, drilled, ground, or other) to specific sizes or shapes. Color, texture and pattern, and surface finish of the stone are also normal requirements. A ...
coating on the outside and by a coat of smooth plaster on the inside. The ground level was raised by 60 cm, which resulted in the rooms having a squat appearance, especially in the transepts. The columns of the nave were cast in concrete, and the pilasters were coated in sandstone.
The reconsecration took until 1960 to complete because of various problems, chiefly the "Hildesheim Cathedral construction dispute" (''Hildesheimer Dombaustreit''), an argument between the
Diocese of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim (Latin: ''Dioecesis Hildesiensis'') is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheim ...
and the
Land
Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various islan ...
of
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
about the cost of the reconstruction and particularly about whether Lower Saxony was one of the legal successors of the
Free State of Prussia
The Free State of Prussia (german: Freistaat Preußen, ) was one of the constituent states of Germany from 1918 to 1947. The successor to the Kingdom of Prussia after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I, it continued to be the domin ...
which had undertaken to cover the cathedral's building expenses in 1803 (when it was still the
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia (german: Königreich Preußen, ) was a German kingdom that constituted the state of Prussia between 1701 and 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Re ...
) during the process of
German mediatization. The parties reached a
settlement
Settlement may refer to:
*Human settlement, a community where people live
*Settlement (structural), the distortion or disruption of parts of a building
* Closing (real estate), the final step in executing a real estate transaction
*Settlement (fin ...
in 1957.
Renovations 2010–2014
![Hildesheimer_Dom_2014-10-01_08](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Hildesheimer_Dom_2014-10-01_08.JPG)
After many years of planning, a thorough renovation of the cathedral began in January 2010, the first since 1960. Along with technical and conservation measures, there were alterations to the design. The floor was lowered to the original level, the
Hezilo and
Azelin chandeliers were restored to their places in the nave and the high choir, and
Bernward Doors
The Bernward Doors (german: Bernwardstür) are the two leaves of a pair of Ottonian or Romanesque bronze doors, made for Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany. They were commissioned by Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (938–1022). The doors show r ...
were again mounted facing outwards, behind an antechamber, as originally intended. In addition, a bishop's crypt was created.
[.]
On 10 January 2010, the cathedral was closed for the work to begin. During the reconstruction, the
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
of
St. Godehard
Gotthard (or Godehard) (960 – 5 May 1038 AD; la, Gotthardus, Godehardus), also known as ''Gothard'' or ''Godehard the Bishop'', was a German bishop venerated as a saint.
Life
Gotthard was born in 960 near Niederalteich, Niederaltaich in the ...
served as the bishop's church (''cathedra''), as it had in the
postwar years. The cathedral renovation was the largest church construction project in Germany. The solemn reopening of the cathedral was on 15 August 2014, coinciding with the beginning of the Diocese's 1200 year jubilee.
Thousand-year Rose
![Rosenstock2016](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Rosenstock2016.jpg)
The cathedral building is widely known for the "
Thousand-year Rose
The Thousand-year Rose (German: ''Tausendjähriger Rosenstock'', literally: Thousand-year-old Rosebush), also known as the Rose of Hildesheim, grows on the apse of the Hildesheim Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, that is dedi ...
" (') which grows outside the building on the outer wall of the apse in the courtyard of the cloisters. The exact age of the rose is no longer precisely known, but the legend of the rose bush claims that it dates to 815. It is an important symbol of Hildesheim - according to folklore, as long as the bush flourishes, Hildesheim will prosper.
[1000 years of age rosetree](_blank)
(German) Domsanierung, retrieved 2 May 2014
According to the story, Emperor
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
had to hold a
Mass
Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different elementar ...
while out hunting in the middle of the forest. For this purpose, a
reliquary
A reliquary (also referred to as a ''shrine'', by the French term ''châsse'', and historically including ''wikt:phylactery, phylacteries'') is a container for relics. A portable reliquary may be called a ''fereter'', and a chapel in which it i ...
of
St. Mary which he had with him was hung from the branch of a wild rose. After the mass, the reliquary could not be removed from the branch. The Emperor considered this a sign that the new bishopric should be established here (not in
Elze
Elze () is a town in the district of Hildesheim, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Leine, approximately west of Hildesheim. The municipality of Elze also comprises the villages of ''Esbeck, Mehle, Sehlde, Sorsum, Wittenburg'' ...
as he had planned) and he should dedicate it to St. Mary, whose symbol is the rose.
The existence of the rose bush has been attested for at least four hundred years. The aerial bombardment of 22 March 1945 which damaged the cathedral and the apse also killed the main growth of the rose bush above the ground; under the rubble, only the charred stump of the rose remained. It was thought that the end of the famous rose had come, but the roots were largely intact, and in the spring of 1945 it put out 25 new shoots.
The first sparse flowers bloomed in 1947, and by 1948 there were 122 flowers. Since then, the new branches of the "Thousand-year Rose" (as it was already known before the bombing) have been marked with little metal signs with the year in which they first appeared. It is believed to be the oldest living rose in the world.
Archaeological finds
In excavations during the 2010–2014 renovations of the cathedral, ninth-century foundations of the St. Mary's chapel were found. The first cathedral building was a small church measuring 6 × 6 m with an
apse
In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...
to the east. The remains of the first altar were found in the apse. The foundations of this first cathedral building consist of sandstone and are extraordinarily thick.
[Hildesheim Cathedral – St. Mariä Himmelfahrt – is currently being restored.](_blank)
Medieval Histories
An even older cemetery was found to the west and south. Twenty graves were uncovered, including, in August 2012, the skeleton of a young woman who died around 800, with glass beads (the remnants of a necklace) and a little knife as grave goods. This is the oldest complete burial ever found in Hildesheim cathedral.
File:Hildesheimer Dom, Westwerk, Ausgrabungen März 2012.jpg,
File:Hildesheimer Dom Grabfund August 2012.jpg,
Interior decoration, art, and treasures
![Hildesheimer_Dom_2014-10-01_05](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Hildesheimer_Dom_2014-10-01_05.JPG)
The cathedral houses numerous works of art. These include the
world-famous cast-bronze doors, depicting scenes from the Gospels and the Book of Genesis; and a
cast-bronze column depicting scenes from the life of Christ. These bronzeworks date from the early 11th century and were commissioned by Bishop
Bernward of Hildesheim
Bernward (c. 960 – 20 November 1022) was the thirteenth Bishop of Hildesheim from 993 until his death in 1022.
Life
Bernward came from a Saxon noble family. His grandfather was Athelbero, Count Palatine of Saxony. Having lost his parents a ...
.
(The column was originally in St Michael's, where Bernward was buried, and has been moved there again during the restoration of the cathedral, possibly to stay.)
[Bernward's Column (Christ's Column)](_blank)
Domsanierung. Retrieved 30 April 2014
There are also four notable Romanesque
wheel chandelier
A wheel chandelier is a lighting installment, in the form of a chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the form of a spoked wheel. The oldest and most important examples derive from the Romanesque period.
Wheel chandeliers were made for the prac ...
s, also called ' or circular chandeliers,
[Julia de Wolf Addison]
Arts and Crafts in the Middle Ages
Medieval Histories[Bernhard Gallistl]
Bedeutung und Gebrauch der großen Lichterkrone im Hildesheimer Dom
In: Concilium Medii Aevi 12 (2009
table of content
pp. 43–88 (PDF; 2,9 MB). Retrieved 2 May 2014 the larger
Hezilo chandelier
The Hezilo chandelier (german: Heziloleuchter) is an 11th-century Romanesque wheel chandelier. It is part of the treasures of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, which has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1985. The cha ...
('),
and the older
Azelin chandelier (').
The
Ringelheim Crucifix was made from linden wood for the body and oak for the arms.
Other treasures include:
* The shrine of St.
Epiphanius of Pavia
Epiphanius of Pavia (438–496), later venerated as Saint Epiphanius of Pavia, was Bishop of Pavia from 466 until his death in 496. Epiphanius additionally held the offices of lector, subdeacon and deacon.
During his lifetime, Epiphanius undertoo ...
and Cathedral patrons over a chapel in the northeast, first half of the twelfth century
* The shrine of St.
Godehard in the crypt, around 1140
* The
Reliquary of Mary, the
Crosses of Bernward and further magnificent reliquaries and liturgical implements displayed in
Hildesheim Cathedral Museum
__NOTOC__
The Hildesheim Cathedral Museum (German: ''Dommuseum Hildesheim'') is the treasury and diocesan museum of Hildesheim, which illustrates over a thousand years of art and church history in Lower Saxony. It is located in historic rooms of ...
(') in the south transept
* The
eagle lectern
An eagle lectern is a lectern in the shape of an eagle on whose outstretched wings the Bible rests. They are most common in Anglican churches and cathedrals, but their use predates the Reformation, and is also found in Catholic churches.
Hist ...
, c. 1220, in liturgical use up until the recent renovations
* The late Romanesque bronze
baptismal font ('), 1225
* The
gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
Inkpot Madonna (')
* The central table of the
Wrisberg epitaph
{{Use dmy dates, date=October 2015
The Wrisberg Epitaph is a triptych, which was created by the Hildesheim painter Johannes Hopffe († 1615) in 1585 as an epitaph for the Domherr Ernst von Wrisberg. The original frame did not survive. However ...
(in the south transept until the recent renovations))
* An apse cross standing in the apse, the pedestal of which, legend has it, was made from the core of the
Irminsul.
* the
Tomb of Priest Bruno (
de) on the southern exterior wall of the choir
* The
Bernward Monument (
de) of from 1893 stands in front of the north paradise entrance
*
Hildesheim rood screen (''Hildesheimer Domlettner'',
de) in the Cathedral Museum
During the 2010–2014 renovations, many religious items from the cathedral were displayed at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...
in
New York, until 5 January 2014.
File:Hildesheim Christussäule.jpg, Bernward Column
The Bernward Column (german: Bernwardssäule) also known as the Christ Column (german: Christussäule) is a bronze column, made for St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim, Germany, and regarded as a masterpiece of Ottonian art. It was commission ...
File:Hildesheimer_Dom_2014-10-01_03.JPG, Bronze baptismal font
File:Hildesheim Kathedrale Mariä Himmelfahrt Innen Epiphaniusschrein 2-2.JPG, Shrine of St. Epiphanius
File:Hildesheim-Bernward-Dom-Hildesia.JPG, Statue of Bishop Godehard
File:Bernwardstür.jpg, Bernward Doors
The Bernward Doors (german: Bernwardstür) are the two leaves of a pair of Ottonian or Romanesque bronze doors, made for Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany. They were commissioned by Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (938–1022). The doors show r ...
Organs
The history of the organ at Hildesheim Cathedral dates back to the fourteenth century. In 1378, there was an organ in the north aisle, above the chapel of the Three Kings. This instrument was relocated to the Godehard choir during the fifteenth century and eventually sold in 1713.
The first large organ was built by Conrad Abtt (Minden) c. 1616/17. The instrument had 31
stops
Stop may refer to:
Places
*Stop, Kentucky, an unincorporated community in the United States
* Stop (Rogatica), a village in Rogatica, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Facilities
* Bus stop
* Truck stop, a type of rest stop for truck dri ...
on two manuals and pedal. During the 17th and 18th century, the instrument was rebuilt and expanded. In 1909, Furtwängler & Hammer (Hannover) built a new organ with 54 stops (three manuals and pedal), re-using the organ case from 1617. On March 22, 1945, the organ was destroyed during an air raid.
Organ 1960–2010
In 1960,
Franz Breil (Dorsten) built a new organ with 52 stops on four manuals and pedal.
[Information on th]
organ of 1960
. In 1989, it was partially rebuilt and expanded to 66 stops by
Klais (Bonn).
Seifert Organs (2014)
In 2014,
Orgelbau Romanus Seifert & Sohn (Kevelaer) built a new organ with 77 stops on four manuals and pedal, re-using windchests and 56 stops from the previous instrument.
[Information on th]
new organ system
and on th
disposition
(PDF; 35 kB) of the new organ system. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
In addition, a new antiphonal organ (Chororgel) with 16 stops was built. It is located in the left isle of the cathedral. Both organs can be played from two identical four-manual consoles: the console of the great organ, and a movable console in the nave.
Bells
![Hildesheim Dom Nikolausglocke](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Hildesheim_Dom_Nikolausglocke.jpg)
Until the Second World War, the cathedral contained over sixteen ringing and quarter bells. The basis of the pre-war peal was five great bells with the tones F-sharp
0, A
0, C-sharp
1, F-sharp
1, G-sharp
1. Nine bells of the pre-war peal survived the war; the great Godehard bell in the west tower was so severely damaged in an air raid that it could no longer be rung. The Bernard bell is in the
Bell cemetery in
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
and was irreparably damaged during transport there. Two bells were capable of being reused: the historical ''Apostolica'' bell of bellfounder Johann Martin Roth of Mainz (1765), which could be integrated into the new peal, and another historic bell of Johann Martin Roth, the ''Nikolaus'' bell, which was originally hung in the crossing tower and was moved to the ''Nordparadies'' in 2010.
[Information on th]
bells of HIldesheim cathedral
. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
Refounding of 1960
After the Second World War it was planned to create a 12-toned peal, with six great bells in the west tower and six smaller bells in the crossing tower (the planned tones: G
1, B
1, C
2, E
2, F
2 and G
2).
At first only a six tone peal was produced. In 1960 the bellfounder (Heidelberg) cast five new bells, which were installed in the west tower together with the ''Apostolica'' bell. In the lower belfry of the tower hung the three deepest bells (1-3), while the three smaller bells (4–6) were in the upper belfry. The new peal (co-ordinated with the bells of the surrounding churches) was a semitone deeper than the original, so the ''Apostolica'' bell had to be tuned a semitone lower to fit with the new bells.
Since the quarter bells had also been destroyed in the Second World War, the quarter-hour chimes were now struck by bell No. 5, the chime on the hour by bell No.4 and the chime at noon by bell No. 1. Bell No. 6 was used for the call to worship (the ').
Renovation 2013/2014
In the course of the 2010-14 renovation, the peal is being expanded by six bells to the 12-tone peal which had originally been planned in the 1960s, though, the tone sequence will be slightly different.
[Information on th]
new bells
The new cathedral bells will be named after witnesses of the faith, who enjoy particular veneration in the Diocese of Hildesheim. Thus bell No. 8 will be named for Bishop Altfrid, one of the most important bishops of Hildesheim, who secured large contributions for the construction of the cathedral. Bell No. 9 will be named after Hedwig of Schlesien (or of Andechs), patron of refugees - since many refugees came to Hildesheim after the Second World War and were crucial in shaping it.
In 2013 the old yoke in the upper belfry was taken apart and replaced by a new yoke of oak. It will hold the six new bells and some of the old ones. In the lower belfry the deepest bells will remain in place.
[Information](_blank)
(PDF; 2,6 MB) from the diocese about the renovations.
On 16 November 2013 the new bells were cast by (Karlsruhe).
The ''Cantabona'' bell is the second biggest of Lower-Saxony after the Christus- und Friedensglocke (Bell of Christ and Peace) in the
Marktkirche, Hanover
The Market Church (german: Marktkirche, italics=unset, meaning 'church at the market place') is the main Lutheran church in Hanover, Germany. Built in the 14th century, it was referred to in 1342 as the church of Saints James and George ( la, e ...
.
World Heritage Site
Hildesheim Cathedral was declared a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
in 1985, along with
St. Michael's Church.
Reopening
On 15 August 2014, the cathedral was reopened after restoration. Bishop
Norbert Trelle opened the Bernward doors and entered the cathedral, followed by 30 other bishops and guests including the Protestant bishop ,
Robert Zollitsch
Robert Zollitsch (born 9 August 1938) is a German prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Freiburg im Breisgau from 2003 to 2013 and was Chairman of the German Episcopal Conference from 2008 to 2014.
Life and work
Zollitsc ...
,
Stephan Weil
Stephan Weil (born 15 December 1958) is a German politician and the leader of the Social Democratic Party in Lower Saxony. On 20 January 2013, the SPD and the Green party won the 2013 Lower Saxony state election by one seat. On 19 February 2013, ...
and
Christian Wulff
Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff (; born 1959) is a retired German politician and lawyer who served as President of Germany from 2010 to 2012. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), he previously served as minister president of the ...
. Trelle said in his sermon: "Die Kirche muss auf die Zukunft hin leben, so wie sie aus der Vergangenheit heraus lebt." (The church has to live towards a future, as it lives from by the past). He added, regarding the situation in Syria: "Während wir hier einen Dom wiedereröffnen, brennen dort die Kirchen." (While we reopen a cathedral here, churches are burnt there). The cathedral was restored to an appearance closer to the original building from the medieval age, for example a ceiling inserted after World War II was removed, and the original floor level restored. A new altar was created by
Ulrich Rückriem
Ulrich Rückriem (born 30 September 1938) is a German sculptor notable for his monumental stone sculptures. He lives and works in Cologne and London.
His abstract works of art are often assigned to the style of minimalism and process art.
Lif ...
.
Location
![Landschaftsschutzgebiet Steinberg - Blick auf Hildesheim (5)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Landschaftsschutzgebiet_Steinberg_-_Blick_auf_Hildesheim_%285%29.JPG)
Hildesheim Cathedral is situated at the southern middle of the city centre of Hildesheim, on the so-called ''Domhügel'' ("Cathedral's Hill"). The main entrances to the cathedral are on the south and north sides. The
Roemer- and Pelizaeus-Museum, is very close to the cathedral in the west. Around the hill is the wall of the ''Domburg''. From the north of the Hill is the ''Michaelishügel'' ("St. Michael's Hill"), from the northeast is the downtown of Hildesheim and to the west is the River ''Mühlengraben'', a tributary of the
Innerste
The Innerste is a river in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Leine river and in length.
Origin of the name
The river name is not related to the German word ''innerste'' meaning innermost. ''Innerste'', in earlier times c ...
River. On the north of the cathedral is the former government building of the city, on the west the Episcopal Vicariate General of the Diocese, in the south the ''Gymnasium Josephinum'' school and on the east the Labour Court of the city.
Bibliography
* .
* .
* .
* .
* , 2 volumes.
* Claudia Höhl. ''Das Taufbecken des Wilbernus – Schätze aus dem Dom zu Hildesheim'', Verlag Schnell & Steiner GmbH, Regensburg 2009, .
* Ulrich Knapp (ed.), ''EGO SUM HILDENSEMENSIS – Bischof, Domkapitel und Dom in Hildesheim 815 bis 1810'', (Kataloge des Dom-Museums Hildesheim; Bd. 3),
Michael Imhof Verlag
Michael Imhof Verlag is a German publishing company in Petersberg, Hesse. They are known especially for publishing books with a local interest, on art, on history, politics, religion, nature, and culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which ...
, Petersberg (2000), .
* Karl Bernhard Kruse (ed.), ''Der Hildesheimer Dom – Von der Kaiserkapelle und den Karolingischen Kathedralkirchen bis zur Zerstörung 1945 (Grabungen und Bauuntersuchungen auf dem Domhügel 1988 bis 1999)'', Verlag Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hannover (2000), .
* Annett Laube-Rosenpflanzer & Lutz Rosenpflanzer. ''Kirchen, Klöster, Königshöfe : vorromanische Architektur zwischen Weser und Elbe'', Halle 2007, .
References
External links
St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim / UNESCO Official WebsiteHomepage of the Cathedral*
Information about the restoration of the Cathedral*
Homepage of the Cathedral Museum(Hornemann Institut)
(Raymond Faure's Website)
Video clipsTwo dozen short films covering the renovation work and archeological finds dating back to the Carolingian foundation including rare, well-preserved 12th-century textile remnants (from liturgical vestments of robed ecclesiastics as interred)
Sacred Destinations entry for Hildesheim CathedralBilder zur Ausstellung "Bernwards Schätze" im Dom-Museum Hildesheimimages of the exhibition ''Bernwards Schätze'' (Bernward's Treasures) in Hannoversche Allgemeine, photo gallery
Hildesheim Cathedral's Treasures – UNESCO World Heritage SiteThe Culture Concept, 2014
Saint Bernward of Hildesheim: Medieval Patron of the ArtsReliquarian 2014
Hildesheim CathedralWorldarchitecturemap
Reopening of Hildesheim Cathedral photo preview 51521988epa.eu
Hildesheim Cathedral pictureson sekulada.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hildesheim Cathedral
Churches completed in 1020
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1960
Ottonian architecture
Roman Catholic cathedrals in Germany
Hildesheim
Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the L ...
Hildesheim
Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the L ...
Hildesheim
Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the L ...
Hildesheim
Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the L ...
Medieval German architecture
Buildings and structures in Hildesheim
Churches in the Diocese of Hildesheim