PÅ‚ock Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral (Polish Katedra Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny ) is the principal church of the Diocese of Płock in the Polish city of Plock.

History

The first brick predecessor of the cathedral was begun on the initiative of Bishop Alexander of Malonne 1129 and consecrated in 1144. As the most important piece of equipment in 1156 bronze doors were made ​​in the year that were brought to unexplained circumstances after Veliky Novgorod in the 13th or 14th century, where they are located today. 1981, a copy was made and placed in the cathedral. After a fire, which is designed by Italian architect basilica was built in the Renaissance style in 1530 in his place. Its construction, which was now crowned by a cupola, was completed in the years 1556-1563 by Giovanni Battista from Venice.

From 1784 to 1787 the cathedral under Bishop Michał Poniatowski, the king's brother Stanislaus II Augustus was adjusted in Classicism.

In the choir of the cathedral, the Polish ruler, Władysław I Herman and Bolesław III were. Wrymouth buried, and, after its rediscovery in 1825 in sarcophagi in the chapel since then known as Royal Chapel under the North Tower.

In the years 1901-1903 the dilapidated basilica was completely renovated and redecorated, with one modeled on the original, but changed in the period of Baroque and Classicism, Renaissance appearance. In addition, the church building a neo-Romanesque twin-tower façade was laid hidden. From the beginning of the century, who also wrote the majority of the interiors as well as the polychrome of the walls and the vault.

Pope Pius X raised the cathedral in 1910 in the rank of a minor basilica. 1991 Pope John Paul II the cathedral.

Equipment

The Płock Cathedral has an important organ from the 20th century, which is used due to the excellent acoustics of the church interior for concerts. From previous eras, numerous epitaphs and tombstones could get. Of importance are two Baroque altarpieces from the 18th century, all the other altars of the church date from the 19th century.

Part of the church treasures are a chalice Duke Konrad of Mazovia from the 13th century and a reliquary bust of Saint Sigismund.