and I totally agree with Flat Stacie.
The Cologne Cathedral,
had the first foundation stone laid in 1248...
and was finally completed 632 years later...
in 1880.
It is hard to wrap my "microwave era" impatient mind
around that bit of trivia.
For those of you who love, love, love,
history and architecture...
click HERE for a video about the construction phases
of the cathedral which is located in the same spot
that a cathedral has stood...
since the second half of the 6th century.
Amazing!
What a "powerful testimony...
to the strength and persistence of Christian belief...
in medieval and modern Europe." UNESCO
It is reported...
"The cathedral suffered seventy hits by aerial bombs during World War II. It did not collapse, but stood tall in an otherwise flattened city.
The great twin spires are said to have been used...
as an easily recognizable navigational landmark by Allied aircraft raiding deeper into Germany in the later years of the war, which may be a reason that the cathedral was not destroyed."
as it is known around the world...
was an important part of Cologne's medieval townscape.
The Birth of Christ window is part of a cycle donated by King Ludwig I in 1842.
Each of the stained glass windows...
is breathtaking.
The Southern Transept window was destroyed
during the Second World War...
and because the original window was undocumented, the original work could not be reconstructed.
There are 72 different colors...
of hand blown glass...
designed by Cologne artist Gerhard Richter...
and was completed in 2007.
Hundreds of sculptures...
were created throughout the cathedral.
Even the floors are adorned...
with intricate art.
The Altarpiece of the City's Patron Saints was painted around 1445 by Stephan Lochner and transferred to the cathedral in 1809.
The center panel shows the Three Wise Men visiting baby Jesus.
My eyes were constantly drawn up...
to beautiful,
encounters...
and reminders...
of the simplicity...
of my faith.
An awesome place for prayer...
or meeting up with your buddies...
on a sunny afternoon.
Have a thoughtful Thursday!
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