Riga Cathedral
The Riga Cathedral ( Latvian: Rīga Cathedral) is the cathedral church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia ( Latvian: Latvijas Evaņģēliski Luteriskā BAZNICA ) and is the biggest Baltic church.
History
The Dome Cathedral was built on the initiative of the first bishop of Riga, Albert of Buxthoeven. He laid on July 25, 1211 foundation. A consecration date is not known. In any case, the cathedral was so far completed in 1226 that is a synod was held, attended the William of Modena as Papal Legate. More than 300 years, the cathedral was the bishopric of Riga Cathedral ( from 1255 Archdiocese ). The position of the archbishop in the city has been significantly weakened, as to their citizenship of the Reformation turned and Wolter von Plettenberg, the country master of the Teutonic Order in Livonia, Riga City on September 21, 1525 evidenced the Lutheran Confessions. With the disintegration of old Livonia during the Livonian War in 1561 and the first Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Riga in 1563 went under. Henceforth, the Cathedral of the ( German ) served the Evangelical Lutheran church. 1923 confirmed the Latvian State of the 1920/1922 constituted the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia possession of the cathedral.
Architectural History
Due to many changes the original architectural form is barely recognizable today.
From the Gothic period the northern portal features (former main entrance ) by its design. Of the two planned towers only one tower was built for lack of money, which burned down in 1547. 1595 was a new tower - partially of wood - built, the ( was the tower of St. Peter's Church lower by a few meters) with 140 m is the highest church tower of Riga was. The tower fell into disrepair ( Abmorschen various wooden structures ), so it was replaced in 1776 by the present 90 m high tower in baroque style over the centuries.
The original design of the church was in 1524 iconoclasts of the Reformation to the victim, the fire of 1547 did the rest. Today, the interior of the church appears in Baroque and Mannerist refinement. Worth the memorial stone of the small guilds ( 19th century), baroque carvings on the wooden pulpit (around 1641) and the grave of the first bishop of Livonia, Meinhard.
Originally the church stood on a small rise. Today the church is located below street level, because the surrounding roads to reduce the risk of flooding by the River Dvina were repeatedly piled up.
Equipment
Organ
1884 an organ with 6718 pipes, 124 registers and four manuals was built by the organ builder Walcker from Ludwigsburg to the lush baroque brochure from 1601.
- Couplers: II / I, III / I, IV / I, III / II, IV / II, I / P, II / P III / P IV / P, I -IV / P, P / I ( " noli me tangere ").
- Accessories: