- Schwerin Cathedral
Schwerin Cathedral (German: "Schweriner Dom"), dedicated to the
Virgin Mary and Saint John, was built following the move of the seat of the Bishopric of the Abodrites, established byHenry the Lion , to Schwerin fromMecklenburg in the late12th century . At first a timber construction served the city as a place of worship. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid in1172 . After a construction period of seventy-six years, the cathedral was consecrated in1248 . The church is now a Lutheran cathedral.In
1222 CountHenry of Schwerin had returned from a crusade with the Reliquary of the Holy Blood, an alleged drop of Christ's blood contained in a jewel. This was placed in the cathedral, and caused it to become a place of pilgrimage.A number of great churches served as models for Schwerin
Cathedral : the "Marienkirche" inLübeck , the "Nikolaikirche" inStralsund and the cathedral ofRatzeburg .During the
14th century the nave and transept were completed, as well as the chapter buildings. At the end of the15th century the cloister on the north side was finished.The tower, 117.5 metres high, was constructed between 1889 and 1893.
[Schwerin Dom: [http://www.meiser-immobilien.de/images/Schweriner%20Dom.jpg] ] [Schwerin Crucifix: [http://www.dorfkirchen.de/pictures/der_dom3.jpg] ]
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