Uzès Cathedral
The parish church of Saint- Théodorit in Uzès in the Gard département is a built in place of an earlier building in the 17th century former cathedral, ( Antakya, Turkey † Antioch, today ) is dedicated to the Holy Priest and Martyr Theodore of Euchaita. She served until 1792, the Bishop of Uzès as seat
History
The first resulting in this former site of a Gallo - Roman temple Christian church building was constructed from the year 1090. Whether, as assumed brought, the feudal lords of Uzès, who participated in the first crusade ( 1095-1099 ), priest and martyr relics of Saint Theodoros of Euchaita in their home is not occupied.
The design of this Romanesque building was influenced by Cluny, as well as the Cathedral of Nimes, the abbey church of Saint- Gilles and the Collegiate Church of Beaucaire. It was partially and again during the Albigensian crusade in 1177, this time with the episcopal see at the beginning of the religious wars on May 13, 1563 Finally - completely destroyed - with the exception of the lower floors of the Tour Fenestrelle mentioned church tower.
The reconstruction of the cathedral and the bishop's seat was decided by royal decree of November 28, 1637. There were 20,000 pounds for the house of God and 10,000 provided for the bishop 's seat. The required 20,000 pounds for the cathedral should be applied by an introduced for eight years tax of two pence per pound of meat.
The originally planned for three years construction took twenty years (1642-1663) and cost 62,000 pounds. The structure of the bishopric was begun in 1671.
Architecture and furniture
With its spacious choir, the bishop's throne, who pulls himself up to the top of the vault, their stalls, their wrought- iron railing and her painting of Pierre Subleyras was the Cathedral of Uzes, according to Bishop Poncet de la Rivière (1677-1728) "the most beautiful in South of France ".
In 1871 the front of the 17th century was covered with a neo-Romanesque facade. The interior of the building, of great simplicity, is Tuscan style.
After the dissolution of the bishopric and the cathedral chapter by the church Treaty ( Concordat of 1801) the interior of the church had changed and adapted to the new service. So had the choir, which was originally intended for the Episcopal church, are very reduced.
The main altar dates from the 19th century. In the apse we see a Cross, the. Ludwig XVIII was donated.
The lower church galleries were built after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to receive the " new converts ."
The altar left to the baptismal font dates from the 19th century and is em St. Firmin consecrated, one of the fathers of the Church of Uzes, who was here 533-553 bishop. Opposite is right the tomb of Mgr Bonaventure Baüyn, a large Bishop of Uzès in the 18th century ( 1737-1779 ). Near the Saint - Firmin- altar is seen in the wall, the place used to be a door Joined at the cathedral with the bishop 's seat.
The main organ
It was built from 1660 and is one of the finest organs in France. The ash-gray, partly gilt and finely carved organ case is surrounded by shops. Once the shops have collapsed in Lent, because the organ was not allowed in this time of the liturgical year. The organ has 45 registers and 2,722 pipes. It was restored in 1964. The disposition is as follows: