The Basilica of the Holy Apostles ( ; ) is a
Romanesque church in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
(Köln), located near
Innenstadt's busy . It is one of the
Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne
The twelve Romanesque architecture, Romanesque churches of Cologne are twelve landmark churches in the Innenstadt, Cologne, Old town ''(Altstadt)'' of Cologne, Germany. All twelve churches are Catholic Church, Catholic.
The reason for the large n ...
from that period.
Sacred Destinations:
''The Twelve Romanesque Churches of Cologne'' (accessed 2011-04-17)
It is historically proven that a monastery was founded here in the 10th century. Its historically secured first Apostle Church was probably a relatively simple building. The former collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons, a non-monastic or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, headed by a dignitary bearing ...
is dedicated to the twelve Apostles
In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
. Either under Archbishop Heribert, who ruled from 999 to 1021, or subsequently under Archbishop Pilgrim (reign 1021–1036), a large new Salian
The Salian dynasty or Salic dynasty () was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages. The dynasty provided four kings of Germany (1024–1125), all of whom went on to be crowned Holy Roman emperors (1027–1125).
After the death of the last Ottonian ...
building was built. Of it are still preserved: large parts of the outer walls of the nave, the western transept and parts of the central nave walls. However, the thin outer skin, the visible wall of these walls, was renewed several times, so that only the core area of these walls still dates from the 11th century.
The church has a basilical plan of nave and aisles, and like Groß St. Martin and St. Maria im Kapitol, has three apses at the east end making a trefoil
A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with f ...
plan. There is a single tower of 67 metres at the west.
See also
* Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne
The twelve Romanesque architecture, Romanesque churches of Cologne are twelve landmark churches in the Innenstadt, Cologne, Old town ''(Altstadt)'' of Cologne, Germany. All twelve churches are Catholic Church, Catholic.
The reason for the large n ...
* Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral (, , officially , English: Cathedral Church of Saint Peter) is a cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia belonging to the Catholic Church. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archd ...
* German architecture
The architecture of Germany has a long, rich and diverse history. Every major European style from Roman to Postmodern is represented, including renowned examples of Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Modern ...
* Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...
* List of regional characteristics of Romanesque churches
Romanesque is the architecture of Europe which emerged in the late 10th century and evolved into Gothic architecture during the 12th century. The Romanesque architecture, Romanesque style in England is more traditionally referred to as Norman ar ...
* Romanesque secular and domestic architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Middle Ages, medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. The term "Romanesque" is usually used for the period from the 10th to the 12th century with "Pre-Romanesque art and archite ...
References
Literature
* Ralf van Bühren
Ralf van Bühren (born 3 February 1962) is a German art historian, architectural historian, church historian, and theologian.
He is professor of art history at the School of Church Communications at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce i ...
: ''Kunst und Kirche im 20. Jahrhundert. Die Rezeption des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils'', Paderborn: Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh 2008 ()
* Annerose Berners: ''St. Aposteln in Köln. Untersuchungen zur Geschichte eines mittelalterlichen Kollegiatstifts bis ins 15. Jahrhundert'', 2 Bde., Diss. Bonn 2004
* Sabine Czymmek: ''Die Kölner romanischen Kirchen, Schatzkunst'', Bd. 1, Köln 2008, ()
* Jörg Poettgen: ''Das spätgotische Geläute von St. Aposteln. Ein unbekanntes Werk des Kölner Meisters Johan van Andernach.'' In: Colonia Romanica II (1987)
* Gottfried Stracke: ''Köln St. Aposteln'', Stadtspuren Band 19 –
* Norbert Nussbaum: ''St. Aposteln in Köln'' –
External links
official site
Innenstadt, Cologne
Roman Catholic churches in Cologne
Basilica churches in Germany
9th-century churches in Germany
Romanesque architecture in Germany
Cologne Apostel
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