Kaunas Cathedral Basilica

The St. Peter and Paul Cathedral ( lit. Šv apaštalų. Petro ir Povilo Arkikatedra bazilika ) is the Episcopal Church of the Archdiocese of Kaunas in Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania.

History

The City and Market Church City Hall Square with the patronage of Peter and Paul began around 1410 in the Gothic style and changed over the centuries by war and fire damage several times. Your valuable equipment reflects the prosperity of the commercial city, especially in the Baroque period. 1895 Sacrament chapel was added. In 1921, the church received the status of a minor Basilica. With the establishment of the Archdiocese of Kaunas 1926 she became its cathedral.

Architecture

St. Peter and Paul is a three-nave brick basilica without transept. She has five nave and choir four yokes with a 3/6-Apsis. The west facade is flanked to the south of the 41 m high plain square bell tower. Gothic forms are obtained mainly in the choir and the apse, while the nave was remodeled during the Renaissance and early Baroque. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel on the south side of the chancel is an independent component of the Gothic Revival. Characteristic of the visibility are the white plaster accents the pediment, the jambs and architraves, which contrasts with the brick red.

Equipment

The interior of the cathedral appears in the guise of the Early and High Baroque. The pillars, walls and arches are partly marbled pastel colors, partly decorated with ornaments and picture medallions; this painting was created at the end of the 19th century in neo-baroque style. The high altar with the sculpture of the crucified Christ and the grieving Mary Magdalene is crowned by the figure of the Risen Christ, kneeling adored by the Apostles Peter and Paul, and surrounded by the symbols of the Evangelists. He was ordained in 1775 and is at the center of an elaborate baroque pillars architecture with eight other expressive statues of saints. , Spans the late Gothic tracery vault. The four side altars are located on both sides of the nave pillars. From them the Assumption Altar is the front left of the most notable; it is preserved in the original form of the 17th century.

In the crypt of the Lithuanian bishop and writer Motiejus Valančius († 1875) is buried. In the Sakramentspapelle whose neo-Gothic features John the Baptist on the subject, the grave of Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius is († 2000). On the outer wall of the south aisle the grave monument of the priest and the national poet Maironis is († 1932).

The organ of the cathedral was built in 1882 by the Lithuanian organ builder Juozapas Radavičius ( 1857-1911 ) and is based on the late Romantic French models.