Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
The cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain is above a tomb, which is attributed to the Apostle James and destination of the pilgrimage. Due to the episcopal and papal recognition of the discovered bones as relics Jakobi the Cathedral of Santiago is considered to be the Holy Sepulchre of the Apostle James. The Armenian Cathedral of St. James in Jerusalem but claimed to be in possession of the skull of the Apostle.
Architecture
The Kathedralbau began in 1077 under the reign of Alfonso VI. over the remains of a more senior church from the 8th century. In 1120 it became the seat of the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela Diego Gelmírez. Today, the Romanesque south portal ( Puerta de las Platerías ) is only preserved in its original form. The numerous extensions of the Cathedral lead to the baroque west portal, the classical north facade and Gothic cloisters inside together several architectural styles. The footprint has been enlarged from this formerly 8,200 m² to 23,000 m².
When you enter the cathedral from the Plaza del Obradoiro via the double staircase, one encounters in the entrance of the West Portal ( Fachada del Obradoiro ) as the first one of the greatest art treasures of the cathedral: the Portico de la Gloria. It was created by Maestro Mateo and his workshop until 1188. Featuring sculptures portal is considered as an artistic masterpiece.
By falls to the Portico, the eye falls long by a total of almost 100 meters, 8.5 meters wide and almost 20 meters high nave on the opposite magnificent main altar, which was erected over the grave of the apostle. The west facade corresponded to both the Baroque desire for opulence as well as the need for almost six centuries, its color losing the Portico de la Gloria from the inclemency of the weather to protect.
On the sides of the west facade, the 75 m high towers, of which the southern (right) after his function Tower ( " Torre de las Campanas " ) and the northern ( left) " Torre de las Carracas " raise is called - according to the rattling or creaking, which in Holy Week ( " semana santa" ) the ringing of the bells is replaced. In the central gable, the statue of the Apostle James rises in a representation as a pilgrim. His sides and slightly below accompany him his disciples Athanasius and Theodore.
In 1985, the historic center of Santiago de Compostela, and thus also the Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The image of the cathedral adorns the small euro cent coins from Spain.
Inside, equipment
The altar is decorated with a gilded canopy. Underneath is the tomb with a silver shrine containing the relics, among others, one dated to the year 874 golden crucifix, which is to include a splinter of the cross of Christ.
Botafumeiro
At high holidays or to order the famous botafumeiro is pivoted by the transept. It is an approximately 1.60 m large censer that hangs on a 30 m long rope from the ceiling and placed after the high office of six men in motion and is swung up under the roof. In addition to its usual function in the liturgical celebration of the botafumeiro served to neutralize the odor of pilgrims who had spent after their pilgrimage on the Camino a whole night watching and praying in the cathedral.
Botafumeiro with smoke
Organ
The organ of the Cathedral of Santiago was built between 1977-1978 by the organ builder Mascioni ( organ builder ) (Italy ) in the historic organ case of Manuel de las Viñas built from the years 1704-1712. Here, the material of the pipe organs predecessor took reuse. The instrument has 59 stops on three manuals and pedal. The tracker action are electromagnetically.
- Pairing: Normal Couplers: I / P, II / P III / P, I / II, III / I, III / II
- Superoktavkoppeln: I / I, I / II, II / II, III / I, III / II, III / III, I / P, II / P III / P
- Suboktavkoppeln: I / I, I / II