Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, KY
Location:	1130 Madison Ave., Covington, Kentucky
Coordinates:	39°4′42″N 84°30′29″W / 39.07833°N 84.50806°W / 39.07833; -84.50806Coordinates: 39°4′42″N 84°30′29″W / 39.07833°N 84.50806°W / 39.07833; -84.50806
Area:	10 acres (4.0 ha)
Architect:	Davis,David
Architectural style:	Late Gothic Revival, Other, French Gothic
NRHP Reference#:	73000812 [1]
Added to NRHP:	July 20, 1973

St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption interior in 2006.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky, is a minor basilica in the United States. The cathedral was started by the Diocese of Covington's third bishop, Camillus Paul Maes, in 1894. The cathedral project was terminated in 1915, though it is incomplete, even to this day. The exterior is inspired by the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The interior was modeled after St. Denis in France. The recent restoration of the Cathedral earned a 2002 Preservation Award from the Cincinnati Preservation Association. For the interior restoration, Conrad Schmitt Studios conducted cleaning of the stone ribs, tracery and walls. Studio artists also provided plaster restoration and select faux stone painting. The cathedral was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Pius XII on December 8, 1953.

The interior of the cathedral contains murals by Covington native Frank Duveneck. According to the St. Mary Cathedral's website: "The Cathedral's North transept window is the world's largest church stained glass window, measuring 67 ft (20 m) high by 24 ft (7.3 m) wide. It presents the early fifth century Ecumenical Council of Ephesus that proclaimed Mary as the Mother of God."

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  At the Cathedral's architectural center point stands the High Altar. Its Verde marble surface suggests ancient sacrificial stones.

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  View of the window, said to be the world's largest stained glass window in a church.

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  View facing Southwest - In this image the North Transept is to the left and the West Facade is shown on the right.

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

External links

• Covington Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
• Interactive panoramas of the Basilica