Aachen Cathedral: Great cathedral with historical, architectural and religious influences (Part – 1)

By Asad Russel –

About the Aachen Cathedral, Aachen, Germany:
As the Kaiserdom (the “Imperial Cathedral) of Aachen also referred the Aachen Cathedral, of great religious, architectural and historical importance is the building. In 805 AD by Charlemagne was built, on German church architecture was highly influential its unique design and for many centuries it was a site of pilgrimage and imperial coronations.

In Germany one of the oldest churches remains the Aachen Cathedral and from the early medieval period contains a wealth of treasures, which includes the Charlemagne’s Throne of c.800, the shrine of Virgin Mary of 1238, the golden shrine of Charlemagne of 1215, a golden pulpit of c.1020 and a golden altarpiece of c.1000. An impressive collection of relics the last contains and the pilgrims still attracts. In the magnificent Cathedral Treasury are on display still more treasures.

The history of the Aachen Cathedral:
The first Holy Roman Emperor the Charlemagne in German Karl der Grosse, in 786 AD his Palatine Chapel also known as the palace chapel began building. As the masterpiece of Carolingian architecture has been described the Palatine Chapel and in 1978 a UNESCO World Heritage Site was made. In Aachen of Charlemagne’s extensive palace complex today it is all that remains.

By Odo of Metz was designed the Palatine Chapel. In Ravenna, Italy on the Byzantine church of San Vitale which completed in 547 AD on it he based. To the chapel for the very eastern feel this accounts, with the ambulatory, golden mosaics, striped arches, marble floor and the octagonal shape of it. As the imperial church to serve in 805 it was consecrated.

During the lifetime a variety of relics collected the Charlemagne, in Aachen Cathedral still which are kept. Here are the four most impressive relics –
● On the cross the lion cloth worn by the Christ
● The Blessed Virgin’s cloak
● After the beheading on which lay the head of St. John the Baptist the cloth
● The Infant Jesus’s the swaddling clothes

From Germany, Hungary, Sweden, England, Austria and from other countries swarms of pilgrims these relics attracted in the Middle Ages. Every seven years only once to show the four great relics it became customary in the mid-14th century, which continues still today a custom and the last time was the 2007.

In 814 when died the Charlemagne, in the chapel’s choir he was buried. Charlemagne’s vault had opened the Emperor Otto III in 1000 AD. In a remarkable state of preservation was found the body it is said, on a marble throne was seated, in imperial robes was dressed, on his head with his crown, in his lap lying open the Gospels, and in his hand his scepter. Representing Otto a large mural and on the dead Emperor his nobles gazing in the Town Hall of the great room on the wall was painted.

Again opened the vault the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1165 and made of Parian marble in a sculptured sarcophagus placed the remains, in which Augustus Caesar was buried said to have been the one. That same year Charlemagne was canonized at Barbarossa’s request.
   

Posted by : Unknown 11:10 PM Tags : Travel Destinations

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