St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

Infobox religious building
building_name=St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna


image_size=300px
caption=
location=Vienna, Austria
geo = coord|48|12|29.9|N|16|22|22|E|display=inline|region:AT_type:landmark
religious_affiliation=Roman Catholic
rite=
province=
district=
consecration_year=1147
status=
leadership= Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn "o.p." [http://stephanscom.at Official Website of the [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna Archiocese of Wien] ] ]
website= [http://www.stephansdom.at/ Official Website]
architect=
architecture_type= Churchcite web |url=http://stephanscom.at |accessmonthday=11-12 |accessyear=2007
author= |date= |language=German |title= Erzdiözese Wien Website]
architecture_style= Romanesque, Gothic
facade_direction=NWbW
year started=1137
year_completed=1160
construction_cost=
capacity=
length=107 m
width=70 mEstimated from satellite images provided by Google Earth ]
width_nave= 38.9 m
height_max= 136.7 m
dome_quantity=
dome_height_outer=
dome_height_inner=
dome_dia_outer=
dome_dia_inner=
materials=

St. Stephen's Cathedral ( _de. Stephansdom) is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP. Its current Romanesque and Gothic form seen today, situated at the heart of Vienna, Austria in the Stephansplatz, was largely initiated by Rudolf IV and stands on the ruins of two earlier churches, the first being a parish church consecrated in 1147. As the most important religious building in Austria's capital, the cathedral has born witness to many important events in that nation's history and has become one of the city's most recognizable symbols.

History

By the middle of the 12^th century, Vienna had become an important centre of German civilization in eastern Europe, and the four existing churches, including only one parish church, no longer met the town's religious needs. In 1137, Bishop of Passau Reginmar and Margrave Leopold IV signed the Treaty of Mautern, which referred to Vienna as a "Civitas" for the first time and transferred the Church of St. Peter to the Diocese of Passau. Under the Treaty, Margrave Leopold IV also received from the Bishop extended stretches of land beyond the city walls, with the notable exception of the territory allocated for the new parish church which would eventually become St. Stephen's Cathedral. Although previously believed to have been built in an open field outside the city walls, the new parish church was in actuality likely built on an ancient cemetery dating back to Ancient Roman times; excavations for a heating system in 2000 revealed graves, 2.5 meters below the surface, which were carbon-dated to the 4^th century. Fact|date=November 2007 This discovery suggests that an even older religious building predated the Ruprechtskirche, which is considered today to be the oldest church in Vienna.

Founded in 1137 following the Treaty of Mautern, the partially-constructed Romanesque church was solemnly dedicated in 1147 to St. Stephen in the presence of Conrad III of Germany, Bishop Otto of Freising, and other German nobles who were about to embark on the Second Crusade. cite web |url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_%281913%29/Vienna |title=The City Of Vienna |accessmonthday=11-26 |accessyear=2007 |author= |last= |first= |coauthors= |format= |work=Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote= ] Although the first structure was completed in 1160 , major reconstruction and expansion lasted until 1511, and repair and restoration projects continue to the present day. From 1230 to 1245, the initial Romanesque structure was extended westward; the present-day west wall and Roman towers date from this period. In 1258, however, a great fire destroyed much of the original building, and a larger replacement structure, also Romanesque in style and reusing the Roman towers, was constructed over the ruins of the old church and consecrated on 23 April 1263. The anniversary of this second consecration is commemorated each year by a rare ringing of the Pummerin bell for three minutes in the evening.

In 1304, Albert I ordered a Gothic three-nave choir to be constructed east of the church, wide enough to meet the tips of the old transepts. Under his son Albert II, work continued on the Albertine choir, which was consecrated in 1340 on the 77th anniversary of the previous consecration. The middle nave is largely dedicated to St. Stephen and All Saints, while St. Mary and the Apostles provide motifs for the north and south nave, respectively. The choir was again expanded under the reign of Albert II's son, Rudolf IV, "the Founder", to increase the religious clout of Vienna. On 7 April 1359, Rudolf IV laid in the vicinity of the present south tower the cornerstone for a westward Gothic extension of the Albertine choir. This expansion would eventually encapsulate the entirety of the old church, and in 1430, the edifice of the old church was removed from within as work progressed on the new cathedral. The south tower was completed in 1433, and the vaulting of the nave—begun in 1446—was complete in 1474. The foundation for a north tower was laid in 1450, but its construction was abandoned when major work on the cathedral ceased in 1511.

In 1365, just six years after beginning the Gothic extension of the Albertine choir, Rudolf IV disregarded St. Stephen's status as a mere parish church and presumptuously established a chapter of canons befitting a large cathedral. This move was only the first step in fulfilling Vienna's long-held desire to obtain its own diocese; in 1469, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor prevailed upon Pope Paul II to grant Vienna its own bishop, to be appointed by the emperor. Despite long-standing resistance by the Bishops of Passau, who did not wish to lose control of the area, the Diocese of Vienna was canonically established on 18 January 1469, with St. Stephen's Cathedral as it's the mother church. In 1722 during the reign of Karl VI, the see was elevated to an archbishopric by Pope Innocent XIII.cite web |url=http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.s/s838794.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en |title=Stephansdom |accessmonthday=11-26 |accessyear=2007 |author= |last= |first= |coauthors= |format= |work= |publisher=Österreich-Lexikon |pages= |language= |quote= "(...) History of Construction: First (?) construction 1137, consecrated 1147, completed as parish church (in possession of the bishopric of Passau) in 1160 (lower floors of the eastern "Heidentürme" and lower parts of the wall divisions are still extant). The various princes subsequently tried to found an independent diocese at St. Stephen's. Vienna was finally granted the status of a diocese in 1469 and St. Stephen's became a cathedral; metropolitan church of the archdiocese since 1723. (...)"] During World War II, St. Stephen's Cathedral was saved from intentional destruction at the hands of retreating German forces when Captain Gerhard Klinkicht disregarded orders from the city commandant, Sepp Dietrich, to "fire a hundred shells and leave it in just debris and ashes." On 12 April 1945, however, fires from nearby shops—started by civilian plunderers as Russian troops entered the city—were carried to the cathedral by wind, severely damaging the roof and causing it to collapse. Fortunately, protective brick shells built around the pulpit, Frederick III's tomb, and other treasures, minimized damage to the most valuable artworks. The beautifully carved 1487 [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/query.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida&DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata&THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx&USER=bild&BAG=20&POS=0&DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl&LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl&FCT=q&iftxt=rollinger&N_ftxt=0&R_ftxt=&ikufo=&N_kufo=1&R_kufo=&i024=&N_024=2&R_024=&i031=&N_031=3&R_031=&i029=&N_029=4&R_029=&iauen=&N_auen=5&R_auen=&i039=&N_039=6&R_039=& Rollinger choir stalls] , however, could not be saved. Rebuilding began immediately, with a limited reopening on 12 December 1948 and a full reopening on 23 April 1952.

Exterior

The church was dedicated to St. Stephen, who was also the patron of the bishop's cathedral in Passau, and so was oriented toward the sunrise on his feast day of 26 December, as the position stood in the year that construction began. Built of limestone, the cathedral is 107 meters (350 ft) long, 40 meters (131 ft) wide, and 136 meters (445 ft) tall at its highest point. Over the centuries, soot and other forms of air pollution accumulating on the church have given it a black color, but recent restoration projects have again returned the building to its original white.

Towers

Standing at 136 meters tall (445 ft) and affectionately referred to by the city's inhabitants as "Steffl" (a diminutive form of "Stephen"), St. Stephen's Cathedral's massive south tower is its highest point and a dominant feature of the Vienna skyline. Its construction lasted 65 years, from 1368 to 1433. During the Siege of Vienna in 1529 and again during the Battle of Vienna in 1683, it served as the main observation and command post for the defense of the walled city, and it even contains an apartment for the watchmen who, until 1955, manned the tower at night and rang the bells if a fire was spotted in the city. At [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0000961 the tip] of the tower stands the double-eagle imperial emblem with the Habsburg-Lorraine coat of arms on its chest, surmounted by a double-armed apostolic cross, which refers to "Apostolic Majesty", the imperial style of kings of Hungary.

The north tower was originally intended to mirror the south tower, but the design proved too ambitious, considering the era of Gothic cathedrals was nearing its end, and construction was halted in 1511. In 1578 the tower-stump was augmented with a renaissance cap, nicknamed the "water tower top" by the Viennese. The tower now stands at 68 meters tall (223 ft), roughly half the height of the south tower.

The main entrance to the church is named the Giant's Door, or "Riesentor", referring to the bone of a mastodon that once hung over it. The tympanum above the Door depicts Christ Pantocrator flanked by two winged angels, while on the left and right are the two Roman towers, or "Heidentürme", that each stand at approximately 65 meters (215 ft) tall. The name for the towers derives from the fact that they were constructed from the rubble of old structures built by the Romans during their occupation of the area. Square at the base and octagonal above the roofline , the "Heidentürme" originally housed bells; those in the south Roman tower were lost during World War II, but the north Roman tower remains an operational bell tower. The Roman towers, together with the Giant's Door, are the oldest parts of the church.

Roof

A glory of St. Stephen's Cathedral is its ornately patterned, richly coloured roof, 111 meters (361 ft) long, and covered by 230,000 glazed tiles. Above the choir on the south side of the building the tiles form a mosaic of the double-headed eagle that is symbolic of the empire ruled from Vienna by the Habsburg dynasty. On the north side the coats of arms of the [http://www.wien.gv.at/english/ City of Vienna] and of the [http://www.austria.gv.at/site/3327/Default.aspx Republic of Austria] are depicted. In 1945, fire caused by World War II damage to nearby buildings leapt to the north tower of the cathedral and went on to destroy the wooden framework of the roof. Replicating the original bracing for so large a roof (it rises 38 meters above the floor) would have required an entire square kilometre of forest, so over 600 metric tons of [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0007222 steel bracing] were used instead. The roof is so steep that it is sufficiently cleaned by the rain alone and is seldom covered by snow.

Bells

The composer Ludwig van Beethoven discovered the totality of his deafness when he saw birds flying out of the bell tower as a result of the bells' tolling but could not hear the bells. St. Stephen's Cathedral has 23 bells in total. The largest is officially named for St. Mary, but usually called "Pummerin" ("Boomer") and hangs in the north tower. At 20,130 kilograms (44,380 pounds), it is the largest in Austria and the second largest swinging bell in Europe (after the 23,500-kilogram (51,800-pound) "Peter" in Cologne Cathedral). [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0007332 Originally cast] in 1711 from cannons captured from the Muslim invaders, it was recast (partly from its original metal) in 1951 after crashing onto the floor when [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0015706 its wooden cradle] burned during the 1945 fire. The [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0014700 new bell] has a diameter of 3.14 metres (9.6 ft)] and was a gift from the province of Upper Austria. It sounds on only a few special occasions each year, including the arrival of the new year. There are three other bells hanging in this tower, but they are older and no longer used.

A peal of eleven [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0001724 electrically operated] bells, cast in 1960, hangs in the soaring south tower. Replacements for other ancient bells also lost in the 1945 fire, they are used during Masses at the cathedral: four are used for an ordinary Mass; the quantity increases to as many as ten for a major holiday Mass; and the eleventh and largest is added when the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna himself is present. From the largest to the smallest, they are named the "St. Stephen" (5,700 kg); "St. Leopold" (2,300 kg); "St. Christopher" (1,350 kg); "St. Leonhard" (950 kg); "St. Josef" (700 kg); "St. Peter Canisius" (400 kg); "St. Pius X" (280 kg); "All Saints" (200 kg); "St. Clement Maria Hofbauer" (120 kg); "St. Michael" (60 kg); and "St. Tarsicius" (35 kg). Also in this tallest tower are the "Primglocke" (recast in 1772) and the "Uhrschälle" (cast in 1449), which mark the passing of the hours.

The north Roman tower contains six bells, five of which were cast in 1772, that ring for evening prayers and toll for funerals. They are working bells of the cathedral and their names usually recall their original uses: "Feuerin" ("fire alarm" but now used as a call to evening prayers) cast in 1859; "Kantnerin" (calling the cantors (musicians) to Mass); "Feringerin" (used for High Mass on Sundays); "Bieringerin" ("beer ringer" for last call at taverns); "Poor Souls" (the funeral bell); and "Churpötsch" (donated by the local curia in honor of the Maria Pötsch icon in the cathedral).

The 1945 fire destroyed the bells that hung in the south Roman tower.

Fixtures on the outside walls

During the Middle Ages, major cities had their own set of measures and the public availability of these standards allowed visiting merchants to comply with local regulations. The official Viennese ell length standards for verifying the measure of different types of cloth sold are embedded in the cathedral wall, to the left of the main entrance. The linen , also called Viennese yard, (89,6 cm) and the drapery (77,6 cm) length standards consist of two iron bars. According to Franz Twaroch, the ratio between the linen ell and the drapery ell is exactly $sqrt\{3\}/2$.cite web |url=http://hexadecimal.florencetime.net/Viennese_ells.htm |title=Viennese Ells |accessdate=2007-11-14 |date=2007-07] cite journal |last=Twaroch |first=Franz |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2002 |month= |title=Die Maßstäbe am Wiener Stephansdom |journal=Wiener Geschichtsbiatter |volume=57 |issue= |pages=|language=German|location=Vienna] The Viennese ells are mentioned for the first time in 1685 by the Canon Testarello della Massa in his book "Beschreibung der ansehnlichen und berühmten St. Stephans-Domkirchen".cite web |url=http://www.univie.ac.at/kunstgeschichte-tutorium/stephansplatz/01regelungen.ppt |title=Normen und Regelungen - Übung „St. Stephan im Mittelalter |format=Ms Powerpoint|first=Susanne |last=Haiden |coauthors= Pastner, Ingrid |language=German |accessdate=2007-11-14 |date=2007-07]

A memorial tablet (near location SJC on the Plan below) gives a detailed account of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's relationship with the cathedral, including the fact that he had been appointed an adjunct music director here shortly before his death. This was his parish church when he lived at the "Figaro House" and he was married here, two of his children were baptised here, and his funeral was held in the Chapel of the Cross (at location PES) inside. [It is often mistakenly stated that Mozart died poor and so was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave. The truth is that under burial laws decreed in 1784, all — rich or poor — were required to be buried unembalmed and without coffins in communal graves. These laws were still in effect when Mozart died in 1791.]

The pulpit (now outdoors at location SJC) from which St. John Capistrano preached a crusade in 1454 to hold back Muslim invasions of Christian Europe. [The Muslims invaded in 1529 and again in 1683, but were turned back from Europe both times by the resistance of Vienna to the sieges it endured.] The 18^th century Baroque statue shows St. Francis under an extravagant sunburst, trampling on a beaten Turk. This was the original cathedral's main pulpit inside until it was replaced by Pilgram's pulpit in 1515.

A figure of Christ (at location CT) affectionately known to the Viennese as "Christ with a toothache", from the agonized expression of his face, various memorials from the time the area outside the cathedral was a cemetery and a recently-restored 15^th century sundial, on a flying buttress at the southwest corner (location S) can be seen.

Interior

[
left|thumb|250px|Plan_of_St._Stephenred letters.CT "Christ with a Toothache" sculpture;Fr3 Tomb of Emperor Frederick III;G Giant's DoorHA High Altar;MP Maria Pötsch icon;NT North Tower;P Pulpit;PES Prince Eugene of Savoy burial chapel;RT Roman Towers;S Sundial;SJC Saint John of Capistrano pulpit;ST South Tower;WNA Wiener Neustädter Altar;]

Altars

There are 18 altars in the main part of the church, and more in the various chapels. The High Altar HA and the Wiener Neustädt Altar WNA are the most famous.

The first focal point of any visitor is the distant High Altar , built over seven years from 1641 to 1647 as part of the first refurbishment of the cathedral in the baroque style. The altar was built by the Tobias Pock at the direction of Vienna's Bishop Philipp Friedrich Graf Breuner with marble from Poland, Styria and Tyrol. The High Altar represents the stoning of the church's patron St. Stephen. It is framed by figures of the patron saints of the surrounding areas — Saints Leopold, Florian, Sebastian and Rochus — and surmounted with a statue of St. Mary which draws the beholder's eye to a glimpse of heaven where Christ waits for Stephen (the first martyr) to ascend from below

Secondly, the Wiener Neustädter Altar at the head of the north nave was ordered in 1447 by Emperor Frederick III, whose tomb is located in the opposite direction. On the predella is his famous A.E.I.O.U. device. Frederick ordered it for the Cistercian Viktring Abbey (near Klagenfurt) where it remained until the abbey was closed in 1786 as part of Emperor Joseph II's anti-clerical reforms. It was then sent to the Cistercian monastery of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (founded by Emperor Frederick III) in the city of Wiener Neustadt, and finally sold in 1885 to St. Stephen's Cathedral when the Wiener Neustadt monastery was closed after merging with Heiligenkreuz Abbey.

The Wiener Neustädter Altar is composed of two triptychs, the upper being four times taller than the lower one. When the lower panels are opened, the gothic grate of the former reliquary depot above the altar is revealed. On weekdays, the four panels are closed and display a drab painted scene involving 72 saints. On Sundays, the panels are opened showing gilded wooden figures depicting events in the life of the Virgin Mary. Its restoration begun on its 100^th anniversary, in 1985 and took 20 years, 10 art restorers, 40,000 man-hours, and €1.3 million to complete, primarily because its large surface (100 m²).

Maria Pocs Icon

The Maria Pócs Icon MP is a Byzantine style icon of St. Mary with the child Jesus. This Marian icon takes its name from the Hungarian Uniate church of Pócs (pronounced "Poach"), from which it was translated to Vienna. The picture shows the Virgin Mary pointing to the child (signifying "He is the way"), and the child holds a three-stemmed rose (symbolizing the Holy Trinity) and wears a prescient cross from his neck. The 50 x 70 cm icon was commissioned in 1676 from painter Istvan Papp by Laszlo Csigri upon his release as a prisoner of war from the Turks who were invading Hungary at the time. Perhaps Csigri was unable to pay the 6-ducat fee, because the icon was bought by Laszlo Hurta who donated it to the church of MariaPócs.

After two miraculous incidents in 1696 of the mother in the picture shedding real tears, Emperor Leopold I ordered to bring it to St. Stephen's Cathedral, where it would be safe from the French-supported Muslim armies that still controlled much of Hungary. Upon its arrival after a triumphal 5-month journey in 1697, Empress Eleonora Magdalena commissioned the splendid "Rosa Mystica" oklad and framework (now one of several) for it, and the Emperor personally ordered the icon placed near the High Altar in the front of the church, where it stood prominently from 1697 until 1945. Since then, it has been in a different framework, above an altar under a medieval stone baldachin near the southwest corner of the nave — where the many burning candles indicate the extent of its veneration, especially by Hungarians. Since its arrival the picture has not been seen weeping again but other miracles and answered prayers have been attributed to it, including Prince Eugene of Savoy's victory over the Turks at Zenta few weeks after the icon's installation in the Stephandom.

The residents of Pócs wanted their holy miracle-working painting returned, but the emperor sent them a copy instead. Since then, the copy has been reported to weep real tears and work miracles, so the village changed its name from merely "Pócs" to "Máriapócs" and has become an important pilgrimage site.

Pulpit

The stone pulpit P is a masterwork of late gothic sculpture. Long attributed to Anton Pilgram, today Niclaes Gerhaert van Leyden is thought more likely to be the carver. So that the local language sermon could be better heard by the worshipers in the days before microphones and loud speakers, [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0007009 the pulpit stands] against a pillar out in the nave, instead of in the chancel at the front of the church.

The sides of the pulpit erupt like stylized petals from the stem supporting it. On those gothic petals are relief portraits of the four original Doctors of the Church (St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Ambrose, St. Gregory the Great and St. Jerome), each of them in one of four different temperaments and in one of four different stages of life.The [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/query.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida&DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata&THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx&USER=bild&BAG=20&POS=0&DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl&LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl&FCT=q&iftxt=Stiegengel%E4nder%20&N_ftxt=0&R_ftxt=&ikufo=&N_kufo=1&R_kufo=&i024=Wien&N_024=2&R_024=&i031=&N_031=3&R_031=&i029=&N_029=4&R_029=&iauen=&N_auen=5&R_auen=&i039=&N_039=6&R_039=& handrail of the stairway] curving its way around the pillar from ground level to the pulpit has fantastic decorations of toads and lizards biting each other, symbolizing the fight of good against evil. At the top of the stairs, a stone puppy protects the preacher from intruders.

Beneath the stairs is one of the most beloved symbols of the cathedral: a stone self-portrait of the unknown sculptor gawking (German: "gucken") out of a window (German: "fenster") and thus famously known as the "Fenstergucker". The chisel in the subject's hand, and the stonemason's signature mark on the shield above the window let to the speculation that it could be a self-portrait of the sculptor.

Chapels

There are several formal chapels in St. Stephen's Cathedral:
* St. Katherine's Chapel, in the base of the south tower, is the baptismal chapel. The 14-sided baptismal font was completed in 1481, and its cover was formerly the sound board above the famed pulpit in the main church. Its marble base shows the four Evangelists, while the niches of the basin feature the twelve apostles, Christ and St. Stephan.
* St. Barbara's Chapel, in the base of the north tower, is used for meditation and prayer.
* St. Eligius's Chapel, in the southeast corner, is open for prayer. The altar is dedicated to St. Valentine whose body (one of three, held by various churches) is in another chapel, upstairs.
* St. Bartholomew's Chapel, above St. Eligius' Chapel, has recently been restored.
* The Chapel of the CrossPES, in the northeast corner, contains the burial place of Prince Eugene of Savoy in the vault containing 3 coffins and a heart urn, under a massive stone slab with iron rings. It is also where the funeral of Mozart was held on 6 December 1791. The beard on the crucified Christ above the altar is of real hair. The chapel is not open to the public.
* St. Valentine's Chapel, above the Chapel of the Cross, is the current depository of the hundreds of relics belonging to the "Stephansdom", including a piece of the tablecloth from the Last Supper. A [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0009421 large chest] holds the bones of St. Valentine. They were moved here about a century ago, from what is now the Chapter House to the south of the High Altar.

Tombs, catacombs and crypts

Since its earliest days, St. Stephen's Cathedral has been surrounded by cemeteries dating back to Roman times, and has sheltered the bodies of notables and commoners. It has always been an honour to be buried inside a church, close to the physical presence of the saints whose relics are preserved there. Those less honoured were buried near (but outside) the church.

Inside the cathedral, we find the tombs of Prince Eugene of Savoy PES,commander of the Imperial forces during the War of the Spanish Succession in the "Chapel of The Cross" (northwest corner of the cathedral) and of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Fr3, under whose reign the Diocese of Vienna was canonically erected on 18 January 1469, in the Apostles' Choir (southeast corner of the cathedral). The construction of the Kaiser's tomb spanned over 45 years, starting 25 years before the emperor's death. This impressive sarcophagus is made of the unusually dense red marble-like stone found at the Adnet quarry. Carved by Niclaes Gerhaert van Leyden, the [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=friedrichsgrab;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0012961 tomb lid] shows Emperor Frederick in his coronation regalia surrounded by the coats of arms of all of his dominions. The body of the tomb has 240 statues and is a glory of medieval sculptural art.

When the charnel house and eight cemeteries against St. Stephen's Cathedral's side and back walls were closed due to an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1735, the bones within them were moved to the catacombs below the church. Burials directly in the catacombs occurred until 1783, when a new law forbade most burials within the city. The remains of over 11,000 persons are in the catacombs (which may be toured).

The basement of the cathedral also hosts the Bishops, Provosts and Ducal crypts. The most recent interment [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0008355 in this crypt] completed in 1952 under the south choir was that of 98-year-old Cardinal Franz König in 2004. Provosts of the cathedral are buried here. Other members of the cathedral chapter are now buried in a special section at the Zentralfriedhof. The Ducal Crypt located under the chancel holds 78 bronze containers with the bodies, hearts, or viscera of 72 members of the Habsburg dynasty. Before his death in 1365, Duke Rudolf IV had ordered such a crypt to be built for his remains in the new cathedral he commissioned. By 1754 the small rectangular chamber was overcrowded with 12 sarcophagi and 39 urns, so the area was expanded with an oval chamber being added adjacent to the east end of the rectangular one. In 1956 the two chambers were renovated and their [http://www.deca-forum.net/deca-cgi/getdoc.pl?DEF=c%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Chida;DATEN=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cdata;THE=C%3A%5Cdata%5Cdeca%5Cidx;USER=bild;DOK_TPL=deca_doc.tpl;LIST_TPL=deca_list.tpl;FCT=g;iftxt=Pummerin%20;N_ftxt=0;R_ftxt=%3D;ikufo=;N_kufo=1;R_kufo=%3D;i024=wien;N_024=2;R_024=%3D;i031=;N_031=3;R_031=%3D;i029=;N_029=4;R_029=%3D;iauen=;N_auen=5;R_auen=%3D;i039=;N_039=6;R_039=%3D&KEY=fot%20w0008329 contents] were rearranged. The sarcophagi of Duke Rudolf IV and his wife were placed upon a pedestal and the 62 urns containing organs were moved from the two rows of shelves around the new chamber to cabinets in the original one.

Organs

St Stephen's Cathedral has an old organ tradition. The first organ is mentioned in 1334.Cite web |url=http://www.stephansdom.at/data/derdom/details/orgel.php |title= Die Orgel im Stephansdom|accessmonthday=11-13 |accessyear=2007 |language=German |date= |work= |publisher= "Rettet den Stephansdom" - Verein zur Erhaltung des Stephansdoms] Cite book |first = Günter | last = Lade| isbn = 3950001700| pages = 295| title = Orgeln in Wien| year = 1990] After the fire of 1945, Michael Kauffmann finished in 1960 a large electric organ with 125 voices, 4 manuals and over 9000 pipes, financed with public donations.Cite web |url=http://iof.pipechat.org//ldshow.php?file=04300100022 |title=St Stephan's Church: Main organ |accessmonthday=11-13 |accessyear=2007 |author= |date= |work=Catalogue entry |publisher=International Organ Foundation] In 1991, the Choir organ was build by the Austrian firm Rieger. It is a mechanical organ, with 56 voices and 4 manuals.Cite web|url=http://iof.pipechat.org//ldshow.php?file=04300100023 |title=St Stephan's Church: Choir organ |accessmonthday=11-13 |accessyear=2007 |author= |date= |work=Catalogue entry |publisher=International Organ Foundation]

Conservation and restoration

Preservation and repair of the fabric of the medieval cathedral has been a continuous process at St. Stephen's Cathedral since its original construction in 1147.

The porous limestone is subject to weathering, but coating it with a sealer like silicone would simply trap moisture inside the stone and cause it to crack faster when the water freezes.The permanent "Dombauhütte" (Construction Department) uses the latest scientific techniques (including laser cleaning of delicate features on stonework), and is investigating a process that would impregnate the cavities within the stone with something that would keep water from having a place to infiltrate.

The most visible current repair project is a multi-year renovation of the tall south tower, for which scaffolding has been installed. Fees from advertising on the netting around the scaffolding were defraying some of the costs of the work, but the concept of such advertising was controversial and has been discontinued.

Systematic cleaning of the interior is gradually proceeding around the walls, and an outdoor relief of Christ in Gethsemane is being restored.

Recently completed is a giant project for which visitors and worshippers in St. Stephen's Cathedral had been waiting since 1147: better heating of the church during the winter. Previous systems, including fireplaces, just deposited soot and grease on the artwork, but the new system uses apparatus in many different locations so that there is little moving airflow to carry damaging particles. The church is now heated to around 10 °C (50 °F).

Some of the architectural drawings date from the Middle Ages and are on paper 15 ft long and too fragile to handle. Laser measurements of the ancient cathedral have now been made so that a digital 3-dimensional virtual model of the cathedral now exists in its computers, and detailed modern plans can be output at will. When weathered stonework needs to be repaired or replaced, the computerized system can create life-sized models to guide the nine full-time stonemasons on staff in the on-site workshops against the north wall of the cathedral.

Stephansdom in popular culture

As Vienna's landmark, the St. Stephen's Cathedral is featured in media including films, video games, and television shows. These include The Third Man, Burnout 3. The cathedral is also depicted on the Austrian 10 cent euro coins and on the packaging of the Manner-Schnitten wafer treat.The Roman Catholic church allowed the Manner company to use the Cathedral as their logo; in return the company is paying the wages of one stone mason doing repair work on the Cathedral.] On 2008, Sarah Brightman performed a concert promoting her latest album, "Symphony", which was recorded for a TV broadcast and a further DVD release in late September.cite web |title=Symphony in Vienna |date=2005]

See also

* List of tallest churches
* Stephansplatz, Vienna

Notes

References

*
* Cite book
publisher = Hrsg. von der Allgemeinen vereinigung für christliche kunst
pages = 64
last = Riehl
first = Hans
language=German| title = Der St. Stephansdom in Wien
year = 1926
* Cite book
publisher = Zsolnay
isbn = 3552033165
pages = 301
last = Zykan
first = Marlene
language=German| title = Der Stephansdom
year = 1981
* Cite book
publisher = K. R. Langewiesche
last = Strohmer
first = Erich V.
language=German| title = Der Stephansdom in Wien|asin=B0000BOD4J
year = 1960
* Cite book
publisher = Wiener Dom-Verl
isbn = 3853510922
pages = 420
last = Feuchtmüller
first = Rupert
coauthors = Kodera, Peter
language=German| title = Der Wiener Stephansdom
year = 1978
* Cite book
publisher = A. Schroll
last = Donin
first = Richard Kurt
language=German| title = Der Wiener Stephansdom und seine Geschichte|asin= B0000BHI6S
year = 1952
* Cite book
publisher = F. Deuticke
pages = 30
last = Macku
first = Anton
language=German| title = Der Wiener Stephansdom: Eine Raumbeschreibung
year = 1948
* Cite book
edition = 1
publisher = Pustet, Salzburg
isbn = 3702505660
pages = 432
last = Böker
first = Johann J.
title = Der Wiener Stephansdom in der Spätgotik. Architektur als Sinnbild für das Haus Österreich
year = 2007

External links

* [http://www.stephansdom.at/data/derdom/einfuehrung/index.php Official website of St. Stephen's Cathedral] de icon
* [http://www.kunstkultur.com Concerts at St. Stephen's Cathedral] (German and English)
* [http://www.dommuseum.at/ Official website of the Museum] de icon
* [http://www.dombauwien.at/ Official website of the Permanent Construction Office] de icon
* [http://stephanscom.at Official website of the Archdiocese of Vienna] de icon
* [http://www.stephanskirche.at/ Official website of the parish] de icon
* [http://www.st.stephan.at/dompfarre/PDF/Pfarrblatt_0902.pdf About the Bells] de icon
* [http://www.deca-forum.net/e_index.htm Digital European Cathedral Archives] de icon
* [http://www.univie.ac.at/kunstgeschichte-tutorium/ststephan/index.htm Literaturkritik zur Baugeschichte des wiener Stephandomes (2002)] de icon
* [http://www.univie.ac.at/kunstgeschichte-tutorium/stephansplatz/ Der Stephansplatz im Mittelalter (2003)] de icon
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