Gniezno Cathedral
Official Church of the Primate and the Archbishop of Gniezno Poloniae - Archcathedral (since 1000), Minor Basilica (since 1931)
The Archcathedral of Gniezno and Primate Basilica of the Assumption (Polish: Archikatedra Gnieźnieńska or Bazylika prymasowska Wniebowzięcia NMP) is the main church of the Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate Poloniae with the status of a minor basilica. It is also the sanctuary Wojciechs ( the first saint of Poland), and thus one of the most important church building in Poland.
- 2.1 interior 2.1.1 chancel and nave
- 2.1.2 Outpatient clinic ( ambulatory )
- 2.1.3 aisles 2.1.3.1 chapels of Archcathedral to Gniezno
History
Beginnings and construction
The beginnings of Archcathedral of Gniezno date back to the 9th century, when the rectangular nave and oratory was built. Towards the end of the 10th century advanced Mieszko I. oratory to a house of worship according to the plan of a Christian cross. In the year 977 was in this house of God Dobrawa princess, the wife of Mieszko I, buried. Before the arrival Wojciechs built in Gniezno Poland prince Bolesław I the Brave, the church continues, so that its outer walls now formed a rectangle. In the year 999 it hosted the funeral Wojciechs with its canons instead.
Between the 7th and March 15, 1000 met the Roman- German Emperor Otto III. in Gniezno, to pray at the grave of St. Wojciech. It was at that time held the first act of Gniezno, at the Prince of Poland Bolesław I the Brave with Emperor Otto III. discussed the plan for the establishment of a joint kingdom of Germans, French, British, Roman and Slavic areas. There the Archdiocese of Gniezno was created and raised the church to the rank of Archcathedral. First Archbishop of Gniezno was Gaudentius. In the year 1018, the Archcathedral burned out completely, but was rebuilt after a further seven years.
On April 18, 1025 Bolesław I the Brave in the Archcathedral the first King of Poland was crowned and after his death on December 25, 1025, his son Mieszko II Lambert. 1038 attacked the Czech prince Břetislav the Archcathedral, they destroyed and robbed, inter alia, the bones of St. Wojciechs, which he claimed for his people and therefore was buried in Prague. The Archcathedral of Gniezno - henceforth without relics Wojciechs - was rebuilt by Poles during the following years in the Romanesque style and consecrated in 1064. In this new Archcathedral was crowned in 1076 after the death of Mieszko II the legitimate successor Bolesław II Szczodry king. Towards the end of the 11th century there was a construction disaster in eastern Archcathedral.
12th to 18th century
During the years 1103 and 1104 took place in the Archcathedral of Gniezno a synod involving a legate ( ambassador of the Holy See ) place, in which it came to the replacement and future storage Wojciech relics in the Archcathedral. A few years later, Prince Bolesław III. Wrymouth to the tomb of St. Wojciech, to pray before it. 1127 the replacement and storage of the holy head of Wojciech was celebrated in the Archcathedral. To 1175 the bronze, Bronze rotgegossene door of Gniezno with the martyrdom Wojciechs shown it was donated in 1177, the Great Congress of Gniezno took place in the Archcathedral place where the great Polish Prince Mieszko III. Stary as dux totius Poloniae (ruler of all of Poland ) occurred.
In 1295, the second to last coronation was held in the Archcathedral of Gniezno. To the King Prince Przemysl II was crowned. Five years later marched in Gniezno armed troops of the Czech King Wenceslas II. The settled then crowned in 1300 in the Archcathedral the new king of Poland. This was the last coronation in Gniezno. In 1331 German Crusaders marched into the first capital of Poland and destroyed the Archcathedral completely. Ten years later, Archbishop Jarosław Bogoria built on the grounds of the ruined cathedral, a Gothic cathedral. He consecrated the new Archcathedral along with his entire chapter in 1378 also. King Kazimierz III. Wielki very supported the reconstruction was also present. Towards the end of the 14th century the chancel and the nave was completed. The Archcathedral of Gniezno was now crowned by a fourteenth chapel. Since 1419 the Archbishop of Gniezno, is responsible for the function of the primate Poloniae. The first primate of Poland was Mikołaj traba.
1613 burned the roof of the Archcathedral or the helmet roof. Seven years later, the Polish organist and composer Adam z Wągrowca visited the Archcathedral to try out the new organ. During the years 1641-52 Primate Maciej Łubieński realized the Baroque style of the interior of Archcathedral. His successor she continued and ordered in 1660 with Peter from the race a silver, early-Baroque Castrum Doloris as the shrine of St. Wojciech, the on the ciborium ( altar construction) of Archcathedral should find its place. The artist created Danziger 1660-62 making it one of his most important works of art, for which he, the silver catafalque in Kraków's Wawel Cathedral, is still known in addition to his later work today. 1760 destroyed the next fire again Cathedral and helmet roof and it collapsed the vault of the presbytery. Over the following years, therefore, was built around the interior of the Archcathedral in a classic style and left only baroque elements that would be replaced due to wear in the near future. This initiated Primate Władysław Aleksander Łubieński.
19th to 21st Century
In 1809 Napoleon's troops lined up in the Archcathedral of Gniezno their military camp, which was destroyed after their escape. The title of minor basilica, Pope Pius XI. the Archcathedral of Gniezno to in 1931. After the Polish campaign of the German Empire in 1939, the Archcathedral of Gniezno was used as a concert hall. The Red Army, however, took the Archcathedral in 1945 on the way to Berlin deliberately under fire and was subsequently ago, this would have been inevitable in the struggle against Hitler. However, the opening of the military fire on the Archcathedral of Gniezno was in no way associated with the struggle against Hitler, as the city is already the Red Army was handed over without resistance before. As a result of the deliberate attack of the Red Army the Kathedraltürme and the roof of the nave burned out completely. We also find the gothic arch above the gallery, the cathedral organ and the choir was destroyed. The aisles and chapels were only slightly damaged. During the 1950s and 1960s restored Poland Archcathedral of Gniezno with great commitment and their associated reconstruction with a Gothic style once again: All the baroque and classical moldings over the 18th and 19th century in the chancel and nave were then transformed back to Gothic forms. There remained only the silver ciborium and undamaged during the war Kathedralkapellen.
On June 3, 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the Archcathedral of Gniezno. In 1992, Józef Glemp was appointed as Archbishop of Warsaw as the new Primate of Poland, Gniezno which lost the title of Primate capital.
On 26 June 2010, the solemn inauguration of the new Metropolitan of Gniezno and Primate Józef Kowalczyk took place. Since then, the Archcathedral of Gniezno, is again the main church of the Primate Poloniae ( Primate of Poland).
Architecture
Interior
The Archcathedral is a three-aisled, brick Gothic hall church with presbytery and cloister. She recalls the style after strong at the Poznań Cathedral. Famous the Archcathedral of Gniezno is since the 12th century for his unique architectural cathedral bronze doors, the martyrdom of St. Wojciech - represent - the first saint of Poland. Furthermore, it is the last resting place of many high-ranking Polish Church Fathers.
The crucifix from linden wood at the entrance has been created by Hans Brandt from Danzig. The marble epitaph for Zbigniew Oleśnicki comes by Veit Stoss.
Presbytery and nave
In the chancel (choir ) of the Archcathedral is the gilded ciborium ( altar construction). Under the ciborium the early Baroque shrine of St. Wojciech be seen - a little Castrum Doloris chased pure silver sheet, created by Peter from the race in 1662 ( after the theft in 1987 restored). Behind the shrine is the grave plate Wojciechs red marble with the medieval Tumba ( tomb ) of the 1480. On the north side of the chancel is a gilt Prymasowski Throne, above the see the coat of arms of the acting archbishop of Gniezno from 1835 is, currently the Coat of Arms Józef Kowalczyks. Before the throne is a gilded prie-dieu with the arms Primate Wyszynski, a symbol that Poland's Primate of the Millennium is present. The choir stalls for the members of the Polish Primate chapter is distributed on both sides of the presbytery. There is also the generous high altar with the bas-relief of St. Wojciech. Above the high altar is an arched beam is attached to the basswood carved gothic crucifix ( from the year 1430).
In the nave are chairs are the old chapter house for the faithful and at the other end.
Outpatient ( ambulatory )
In ambulatory find more worshipers. Interest here are the bronze grave plate of Jakub z Sienna from the late 15th century, four grave stones of the foundation Primate Laski, the Stefan Wyszynski Monument in 1982 (he was a Poland's Primate of the Millennium ) and the grave plate Primate Oleśnickis of red marble.
Aisles
The aisles are so-called wieńcem pomieszczeń. These are mainly chapels, but also the chapter house, sacristy or church tower room.
Chapels of the Archcathedral to Gniezno
Kaplica Prymasa Potockiego ( Chapel of the Primate Potocki ), were buried in the crypt:
Called Kaplica Bożego Ciała ( Chapel of God's body ), also Kaplica Prymas Sprowskiego ( Chapel of the Primate Sprowski ), were buried in the crypt:
In this chapel the Blessed Sacrament is kept.
Kaplica Doktorów ( Chapel of doctors ), also known as Kaplica Sw. Jana Nepomucena ( Chapel of St. John Nepomuk ), in whose crypt canons of Gniezno cathedral chapter were buried: Jasicki canon, canon Oczko, canon Kantecki, Canon Robertson, canon Balcer Pstrokoński.
In this chapel the Penitentiary ( Bußkanoniker ) regularly offers the opportunity for confession.
Kaplica Pana Jezusa ( Chapel of Jesus Christ), also known as Kaplica Świętego Krzyża ( Chapel of the Holy Cross ), in whose crypt other canons of Gniezno cathedral chapter were buried. Currently located in her Cudowny Krzyż Gnieźnieński ( Miraculous Cross of Gniezno ).
Kaplica Niepokalanego Poczęcia NMP ( Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of Mary ), also known as Kaplica Prymasa Gembickiego, in whose crypt Primate Wawrzyniec Gembicki was buried.
Kaplica Kołudzkich ( Chapel of Kołudzkis ), in the crypt, the priests of the Kołudzki family were buried.
Kaplica Sw. Andrzeja ( Chapel of St. Andrew ), also known as Kaplica Prymasa Olszowskiego, were buried in the crypt:
Kaplica Bogorii ( Chapel of Bogoria ), also known as Kaplica Matki Bożej Częstochowskiej ( Chapel of Our Lady of Częstochowa ), were buried in the crypt:
The chapel is the place daily confession, which are taken by the parish priest and the seminary Gnieznos.
Kaplica Sw. Stanisław ( Chapel of St. Stanislaus ), known as Kaplica sufragańską ( Chapel of the suffragans ), were buried in the crypt:
In the chapel of the Bußkanoniker makes its Beichtdienst.
Kaplica prym. Baranowskiego ( Chapel of the Primate Baranowski ), in whose crypt 1615 Primate Wojciech Baranowski was buried in the year.
Kaplica Sw. Mikołaja ( Chapel of St. Nicholas), known as prym Kaplica. Dzierzgowskiego, in whose crypt 1559 Primate Mikołaj Dzierzgowski was buried in the year.
Kaplica Prymasa Łubieńskiego, were buried in the crypt:
Other rooms
The Vicar - sacristy is located between the Kaplica doktorów and Kaplica Sw. Walentego with entrance to Archcathedral and the prelate - sacristy, which is used by the canons and bishops.
Are parallel entrance halls on the north and south sides of the Archcathedral. In the northern entrance hall large double-wing church portals are worth, which arose in 1400 and designed by gothic outside and from the inside with the five Polish kings who were crowned in the Archcathedral. From the northern entrance hall leads also to the souvenir shop, the pilgrim's office and Erzdiösanbüro. The old chapter house with entrance to the basement is not far. Interesting on the northern Kathedralseite is also another church portal from the second half of the 14th century with the tympanum Sadu Ostatecznego ( The Last Judgement ), mixed with the bronze doors of Gniezno from 1175, which shows the martyrdom Wojciechs. The door is closed and is opened only on special celebrations, such as when the Archbishop in honor of St. Wojciechs passes through.
The ticket sales can be found on the south side. There is an entrance to the observation deck on the South Tower of Archcathedral.
Environment
North of the Archcathedral of Gniezno is the Archbishopric together with the Kolegacki Kościół Sw. Jerzego ( Erzstiftskirche of St. Jerzy ). In the archbishopric of, for example, the Erzdiözesanarchiv Gniezno is with the Archdiocese. East of the Archcathedral you look over the Lech Hill of the marketplace in Gniezno. South of the Archcathedral is destroyed in 1939 and 1985 rebuilt Bolesław I the Brave monument of Gniezno. West of the Archcathedral is the grassed Plac Św. Wojciecha ( place of St. Wojciech ), organized the large open-air liturgical celebrations each year on the.
Royal coronations in Gniezno Archcathedral
Five Polish kings were crowned over three centuries in the Archcathedral of Gniezno. These were:
- In 1025: Bolesław I the Brave
- December 25, 1025: Mieszko II Lambert
- December 25, 1076: Bolesław II Szczodry
- June 26, 1295: Przemysł II
- In August 1300: Waclaw II