St. Elisabeth Cathedral

The St. Elisabeth Cathedral ( Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth, Slovak: Dom svatej Alžbety, Hungarian: Szent Erzsébet székesegyház ) or Kaschauer Cathedral is located in the center of Košice ( Kassa ). It is the largest church in Slovakia, is dedicated to St. Elizabeth and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Košice.

History

The cathedral was built on the site of a parish church, which burned down in 1370. Its construction began in 1378 on. The construction took place in several stages and you can actually say that the cathedral is not completed until today.

The first phase lasted until 1420. During this stage, the church was built as a five-aisled basilica modeled after the Cathedral of St. Victor in Xanten on the Rhine.

In the second phase, the design was changed and we crossed the nave with an equally high transept.

In the third construction phase, 1470, they built the Chapel of the Holy Cross ( Kromer's Chapel ), 1477, the chapel of St. Mary ( Szatmáris chapel ) and the now- defunct chapel of St. Joseph. 1491, the church was badly damaged. Nicholas Krompholz from Neisse was commissioned to repair the church. Under his supervision, and the presbytery was completed. Thus, the cathedral was built at the end.

In the coming years the cathedral was damaged several times and repaired. The most extensive reconstruction took place between the years 1877 and 1896. The interior and exterior of the church should be rebuilt again after the five-nave design. The Chapel of St. Joseph was demolished and in the northern ship they built a crypt, in 1906 the remains of Francis II Rákóczi and his companions were transferred, including countess Jelena Zrinski.

On Elisabeth Cathedral there are 52 gargoyles. All have an animal form, only one has the shape of a woman's face. According to legend, the wife of the Master Stephan had given to wine and he made frame it as a gargoyle, so that they to the end of their lives, or as long as the Elisabeth Cathedral is just spewing water.

In Elisabeth Cathedral is the oldest surviving twin spiral staircase is located.

As bell tower of the cathedral was the Urban Tower.

Today's Cathedral

Today Elisabeth Cathedral preserves the five-aisle design. At the intersection, there is a tower of metal. The eastern Matthias tower from the year 1461 and the western tower complete the western facade.

The Elizabeth Altar (main altar of Saint Elizabeth ) deserves special attention. It consists of 48 Gothic panel paintings.

In addition, you can admire a wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary, the mural "Resurrection", a bronze baptismal font, a Gothic Passion, a stone pulpit and other attractions.

Ground plan

St. Elisabeth Cathedral

St. Elisabeth Cathedral and Chapel of St. Michael

Northern portal

Woodcut