Erfurt Cathedral

Erfurt Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary at Erfurt
Erfurter Dom (German) Hohe Domkirche St. Marien zu Erfurt Propsteikirche Beatae Mariae Virginis
Erfurt Cathedral (left) and St Severus's Church (right)
Erfurt Cathedral Location in Germany
50°58′33″N 11°01′24″E
Location	Erfurt, Thuringia
Country	Germany
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.dom-erfurt.de
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	12th century
Specifications
Height	81.26 m (266 ft 7 in)
Bells	14
Tenor bell weight	11.45 t (11.27 long tons)
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Erfurt
Clergy
Provost	Gregor Arndt
Vicar(s)	Bernhard Drapatz
Deacon(s)	Matthias Burkert
Laity
Organist(s)	Silvius von Kessel

Erfurt Cathedral (Template:Lang-de, officially Hohe Domkirche St. Marien zu Erfurt, English: Cathedral Church of St Mary at Erfurt), also known as St Mary's Cathedral, is the largest and oldest church building in the Thuringian city of Erfurt, central Germany. It is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erfurt. The cathedral was mainly built in the International Gothic style and is located on a hillside overlooking the main town square (Domplatz, Cathedral Square). Former German names include Marienkirche and Propsteikirche Beatae Mariae Virginis.

History

The site of the present cathedral has been the location of many other Christian buildings, for example a Romanesque basilica and a church hall. In 742, Saint Boniface erected a church on the mound where Erfurt Cathedral is now sited. In the mid-12th century, the foundations of the original church were used for a Romanesque basilica. In the early 14th century, the mound was enlarged to make room for St Mary's Cathedral.

Martin Luther was ordained in the cathedral on 3 April 1507.

Architecture

The architecture of Erfurt Cathedral is mainly Gothic and originates from the 14th and 15th centuries. The building has many notable architectural features, including the stained glass windows and the interior furnishings. The central spire of the cathedral's three towers houses the Maria Gloriosa which, at the time of its casting by Geert van Wou in 1497, was the world's largest free-swinging bell. It is the largest surviving medieval bell in the world. It is known for the purity of its tone.

Relics and treasures

The cathedral houses many rare and rich furnishings and sculptures, including the tomb of the bigamous Count von Gleichen, accompanied by both of his wives, a stucco altar, a bronze candelabra of Romanesque antiquity called Wolfram, the oldest free standing cast work in Germany, and, out on the porch, several statues of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.

• 
  The altar
• 
  The Wise and Foolish Virgins
• 
  Wolfram candelabra

Bells

No.	Name	Year	Caster	Diameter (mm)	Mass (kg)	Strike tone (HT−1/16)	Bell location
1	Gloriosa	1497	Gerhardus de Wou, Erfurt	2,560	11,450	e0 +3	Middle Tower, lower
2	Dreifaltigkeit	1721	Nicolaus Jonas Sorber	1,940	4,900	g0 +12	North tower
3	Joseph	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda	1,840	4,600	a0 +8	South Tower
4	Andreas	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda	1,540	2,600	c1 +11	North Tower
5	Christophorus	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda	1,360	1,900	d1 +10	South Tower
6	Johannes Baptist	1720	Nicolaus Jonas Sorber	1,190	1,000	e1 +7
7	Cosmas und Damian	1625	Jakob König, Erfurt	750	200	des2	Middle Tower, upper
8	Cantabona	1492	Hans Sinderam	650	300	g2
9	Engelchen	about 1475	Claus von Mühlhausen, Erfurt	550	125	as2
10	Namenlose	1475	Meister Peter	500	75	b2
11	Wandlungsglocke	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda	550	100	f2	Dachreiter (Hochchor)
12	Paulusglocke	2009	Br. Michael Reuter, Maria Laach	390	42	d3
I	Martha	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda			e2	Lantern
II	Elisabeth	1961	Glockengießerei Schilling, Apolda			gis2

See also

• St. Augustine's Monastery (Erfurt)
• Architecture of cathedrals and great churches

External links

• Media related to Erfurt Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in German)