Cathedral in Cologne II

On Saturday morning, Jennifer and I took a guided tour of the Cathedral. I am very glad we did because we got to see a few more things up close and hear the history behind the building of the Cathedral.

 

Here is a picture of the organ. They installed an additional organ in 1998 which can be controlled by the keyboard on the other organ, or it can be played simultaneously.

We learned about the symbolism of the 13 colored statues and their musical cherubs above them. The twelve disciples and Mary are all carved and then colored, hanging from enormous pillars.

This modern window (abstract squares) also has meaning in that it looks like a random pattern of 72 colors, but there is order once it is studied. For example, the order of the squares in the left-most window is a mirror of those in the third-from-the-left. It symbolizes how God's creation has a pattern and purpose, even in the midst of chaos. It replaced a plain glass window which had been installed after the original stained glass was destroyed during WWII

 The inner Choir had a spectacular floor made of porcelain mosaic. The detail and symbolism were very impressive.

This is the Shrine of the Three Holy Kings, a sarcophagus dating from the 13th Century. It is said to contain the bones and the clothes of the three wise men who worshiped Jesus after his birth.  There are many stories carved into it, including a 4th king who was King at the time of the carving and wanted to be remembered as being a follower of Jesus also, just coming after the Three Holy Kings.

Here are some final facts about the Cathedral:

• Construction began in 1248 and not completed until 1880, although constant maintenance makes the people of Cologne say "It will never be 'done'".
• For a period from 1880 to 1884 it was the world's tallest structure. It is now the 2nd largest in Germany and 3rd largest in the world.

• 20,000 visitors come to the Cathedral each day
• It is, of course, not heated and temperatures can reach below zero, but they still hold mass regularly. It is a functioning church and the main home of the Archbishop of Cologne.