Ribe Cathedral

Ribe Cathedral (also: Cathedral Ripen ), Danish Ribe Domkirke, also called Vor Frue Kirke Mary, is an Evangelical Lutheran Episcopal Church in Denmark. It is the only five-aisled church building and the oldest cathedral in the country. Ribe is also the oldest site of present-day Denmark.

History

After the first church in Hedeby / Schleswig Ribe is the oldest church site in Northern Europe. To 860 the Apostle Ansgar founded the first church here. The diocese of Ribe was founded in 948. Around 1100 they started building the stone Church of the term of office of the bishop Thure. In the reign of King Christian III. the Reformation was introduced in the 1530s. The diocese of Ribe was transformed into a Protestant church province. It included still not only the south-west of Jutland, but also the northwest of the state law only partially connected with the Kingdom of Denmark Duchy of Schleswig. The bishop's possessions south of the Königsau (including Møgeltønder ) were secularized, but were still enclaves of the Kingdom, until 1867. As Northern Schleswig in 1920 an integral part of Denmark, was the bishopric of Ribe was reduced in favor of the newly created diocese of Haderslev, the bulk of which had heard up to that point to the diocese of Schleswig.

Building

Ansgar's first church was a wooden building, and as such had probably even more followers.

The first stone building was built in the now rich and prosperous city between 1150-1250 as late Romanesque three-nave basilica with transept and west towers after Rhenish models; it is 63 meters long and 36 meters wide. As a building material, especially tuff was used, which was fetched by boat from the quarries near Cologne and is also found in many country churches in the diocese. Only for socket, fine architectural elements and sculptures took one domestic granite or fine-grained sandstone Weser.

Best stonework and most beautiful outdoor part of the cathedral is the south portal of the transept, the so-called cat's head door, with the impressive granite relief of the Deposition from the Cross (ca. 1150-75 ) and column- bearing lions. The triangular pediment above ( first half of the 13th century ) shows a sandstone relief of the Heavenly Jerusalem and the royal founder of the cathedral. The bronze door is decorated with a door puller in the form of a lion head ( 1225 ).

Under construction only the aisles were first arched and the transept, over which originated the boldest component: a mighty tuff dome. Nave and transept were flat covered until you under the impression the new Gothic architectural forms changed the blueprint beginning of the 13th century. To 1225-50 also, these components were curved, ribbed vaults on figural consoles. The nave was large triangular clerestory windows.

1283 collapsed the north tower. In its place, a far higher brick tower, 52 meters high tower called citizens ( Borgertårnet ), the landmark of the city was built. As the name suggests, it is not a church, but a city tower, as they are known as Ghent, Bruges and other medieval cities in the Netherlands. The tower was completed around 1333 and the citizenry was there to hang the big alarm bell that was rung in a storm flood, fire and danger of war. Since the collapse of the peak in 1534, the tower is a flat ceiling and today has a viewing platform. In the dimensions modest, but is architecturally impressive Romanesque four-sided covered southern Marie Tower ( Mariatårnet ). The third spire is the roof skylights over the east choir. Despite the relatively low tower heights of the church has a very impressive long-distance effect in the flat landscape and surrounded by the old town perfectly preserved and disturbed by no oversized new construction.

The chapel attachments which originated in the 14th and 15th centuries in the aisles could be assembled at the end of the Middle Ages to two outer aisles. Thus, the cathedral received its present five-aisle system.

With the introduction of the Reformation in 1536, the cathedral was a church citizens. New facilities and magnificent grave monuments were added during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, during the construction fell slowly. The decline accelerated after the Swedish wars mid-17th century, after which the city and surrounding areas very impoverished. In makeshift repairs 1738-40, 1791-92 and 1840-45 they won by demolition building materials " unnecessary " components.

The restoration of 1882-1904 under the architect HC Amberg saved the decaying building. The tuff facade was restored to its original form, and in 1791 Marie broken southern tower was reconstructed after Rhenish models. Inside Amberg left a Ciborienaltar built of stone, of a new monumental choral design with mosaics, wall and glass painting of the painter Carl -Henning Pedersen had to give 1982-87.

The interior of the church thus appears today rather cool and modern, despite the preserved older buildings. Nevertheless, the cathedral holds many precious pieces, including the pulpit from 1597, the Baroque organ case and the bronze font of 1375 ( inter alia with reliefs of the Trinity, the Coronation of the Virgin and founder of Arms).

Noteworthy is also the ( empty ) sandstone sarcophagus from the grave King Christoffer I. ( 1259; Rhenish import) and the associated grave plate, the oldest royal grave slab in northern Europe. It consists of black Belgian granite, limestone, and originally had brass trim and inlays of alabaster. By 1987, she was over the grave ( tomb ) of the king before the high altar.

Vestibule with limestone and glass paintings by Carl Henning Pedersen.

Pulpit of 1597 ( Jens Asmussen, Odense).

Organ case from 1634 / 35th

Late Gothic fresco painting Mary with the baby Jesus on a pillar in the nave.

View to the Northeast.

Cats head door

St. Jürgen with the Dragon ( 1475 )