Maribor Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the Slovenian city of Maribor is the Roman Catholic bishop's church of the Archdiocese of Maribor.

The church was built in 1248 in Romanesque style. In the 14th century the chancel was extended and Gothicised. The nave was rebuilt at the 15th century, so that the Cathedral has completely gothic today. The baroque chapels were added in the 16th and 18th centuries.

The original bell tower created Paolo Porta in 1623. After the end of the 18th century a lightning bolt had struck, he was replaced by a classical 57-meter- high tower. He is accessible and now serves as a lookout over the city.

Jozef Holzinger created the choir stalls, which was completed in 1771. Gold plated reliefs show scenes from the legend of John the Baptist. Here are also the cathedra and a statue of beatified Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek. He moved the Diocese of Lavant to Maribor. His grave is located in the Baroque Chapel of the Cross.

The golden candlestick of the nave were built in 1686 and donated by the butcher, baker and goldsmith guilds of the city. In the nave there are two images, one of which shows the baptism in the Jordan, the other image is a copy of Peter Paul Rubens Descent from the Cross. The artist created the 1670 pulpit is unknown; However, it shows the Saints Peter and Paul and the four evangelists. The Mary Help of altar dates from 1699, the resident statue of Mary but of 1500. Frescoes on the ceiling were created in 1775 by the grazer painter Adam Molk. 1981, a new organ in the church was installed. Additional facilities include the modern stained glass window of the chancel, the altar and the new sermon panel. One of the windows is a memorial window and displays the visit of Pope John Paul II in Maribor.

Originally hung in the tower four bells, two of which were melted down during World War II. The largest bell broke up in 1921 during the Geläuts for the late King Peter I.. Subsequently, four new bells were ordered, which were in turn taken in World War II. What remains is only the middle of the original bell Geläuts with 1660 kg weight.