Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli

Santa Maria degli Angeli (English: Our Lady of the Angels ) is a basilica located below of Assisi in central Italy. She is considered one of the largest churches in Christendom. In this church took place twice, in 1986 and 2002, the world prayer meeting many leaders of the great religions instead.

History and Structure

The church was built at the behest of Pope Pius V 1569-1679 after a design by the architect Galeazzo Alessi in 1568 from Perugia to the little chapel Portiuncula around, in the St. Francis had founded in 1208 the Franciscan movement and in which he had died. The chapel was to visit the thousands of members of the Order (5000 met there alone in 1221 at the annual Chapter of the Order ) and for the countless pilgrims too small. From Pope Pius X, the Church was founded in 1909 with Pope for Papal Chapel ( Capella Papalis ) collected and confirmed its title: head and mother of all the churches of the whole Order of Friars Minor.

The porch, attached to the facade of L. Poletti, derived from C. Bazzaniu ( 1924-1930 ). The statue of the Virgin Mary in gold bronze on the roof of the cathedral dates from G. Colasanti. The Basilica of the opposite planted with trees large space is created according to a plan by G. Nicolosi and want to remember the old oak forest, which once surrounded the Portiuncula.

Equipment

The interior is divided into three large ships of harmonious beauty in pure Doric style. After the collapse caused by the earthquake of 1832, the church was largely rebuilt in the years 1836-1840 by L. Poletti again; the earthquake was the dome and Portiunkulakapelle undamaged. In the fields of the dome there are four mural by F. APPIANI (1757 ): investiture of St. Clare; St. Francis is given the Portiunkulakapelle; St. Francis in the Portiuncula hear the gospel of perfect renunciation; St. Bonaventure falls into ecstasy when he wrote the life of St. Francis. Important archaeological remains have recently been discovered: the original choir behind the Portiuncula (visible under the floor ); Floors, which probably belonged to the first brick monastery that had arisen in the vicinity of the Portiuncula ( embedded in the new crypt ). The new presbytery is the work of architect B. Apollonj - Ghetti; the statues in bronze gold that decorate the papal altar, derived from E. Manfrini, the bas-reliefs of the ambos of T. Fiedler. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel to the input of the left transept of the Portiuncula ago is a little off to invite the recollection and prayer. In the chapels are decorations and paintings from the 17th century by Pomarancio of Sermei and Giorgetti (both from Assisi ), by Salimbeni, APPIANI, Maggesi and the brothers Zuccari.

The Basilica has several organs. The main organ was built in 1961 by the organ builder Mascioni, reusing pipe material of the previous organ in 1932 by organ builder Pinchi ( Foligno ) was built. The instrument has 69 registers and a anspielbares from 1 manual and the pedal chimes on four manuals and pedal. the tracker action are electric.