101. WINDOWS OF PETER AND GÖRRES
The window of Peter [113] at left was commissioned by the Rhine Railway Co. and inserted in 1873. The small upper scene shows Pope Pius IX kneeling in front of Christ who is giving the Keys of the Kingdom to St Peter (Matt 16:18). Below, the apostles acknowledge Peter. At right Joseph Görres kneels in front of Mary and the Christ Child. Görres was the first to advocate the completion of the Cathedral in 1814. PLAN
102. OLD BANNER
As we leave the South transept we pass a framed banner depicting St Stephen. It also carries the letters O.P.N. – Ora Pro Nobis (Latin: Pray for Us).
103. SOUTH NAVE AISLE
Looking up the South nave aisle we see the interior of the South West tower, and an illuminated clock.
104. CLOCK FACE
It is unclear why this clock would have been placed here: it is behind the seated parishioners, and out of view from the pulpit!
105. SOUTH NAVE VIEW
This view from the inner aisle shows that there are still more beautiful windows to enjoy.
106. SOUTH NAVE WINDOWS
From the left the Bavarian windows [120–116] of the South nave show: the stoning of St Stephen, Pentecost, Descent from the Cross and Lamentation, Adoration of the Shepherds and Magi, and Sermon of John the Baptist in the Desert. These windows were given by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. They were inserted in 1848.
107. WAY OF THE CROSS
Along the walls of the nave are placed an attractive set of stations of the cross [16]. Along this wall we find: I Jesus is condemned to death; II Jesus carries his cross; III Jesus falls the first time; IV Jesus meets his mother. Twelve of these were created by Wilhelm Mengelberg between 1895 and 1898.
108. RELIEF AND MASONRY
Under the middle window we find this framed deep relief image, and nearby a piece of Cathedral masonry.
109. DESCENT FROM THE CROSS
In the hall of the South Tower stands this monumental group which serves as the 13th station of the cross. It is called Descent from the Cross and Lamentation [121]. It was created c. 1900 out of a single block of fine French limestone in the workshop of Wilhelm Mengelberg.
110. SOUTH TOWER WINDOWS
There are three large windows in the hall of the South tower – two facing South and one facing West, shown here from left to right. They are similar in design to the windows in the North tower.
111. SOUTH PORTAL WINDOW
Above the South portal is another small window, invisible from the outside, hidden by the portal gable. This window features scenes from the Garden of Eden, and is a recent addition, dating from 2010.
112. VIEW FROM WEST
Leaving the South tower, we cross the back of the Cathedral, impressed once more by the sheer size of this space.
113. MAIN ENTRY
We now walk down the central nave aisle. Looking back we observe the unexpected blue image of the West entry.
115. AISLE PILLAR FIGURES
The central nave aisle is lined with pillar figures [7], standing like a solemn honour guard. The figures here are saints of the Frankish empire. The central aisle is 12.5 m./41 ft. wide, and 43.35 m./142 ft. high.
116. ORGAN
The Swallow’s Nest Organ was built by the organ builder Klais workshop in Bonn in 1998. It has 53 stops, including an open 32nd stop.
117. CARVED PEWS
The wooden pews have decoratively carved ends.
118. CROSSING
The crossing is where the two axes of the Cathedral meet. At centre is the nave altar, at right the pulpit, at left the cathedra (the archbishop’s coat of arms can just be seen above the altar). We have already noticed the clerestory windows, the angels in their gold band, the pillar figures ... .
119. INNER CHOIR
The cathedra is at left, but from here we can also view the choir stalls, and the decorated panelling surrounding them. There is no public access to this immediate area.
120. CATHEDRA
The cathedra [31] is the seat of enthronement for the archbishop, and was designed by Cathedral Architect Weyres in 1952. Over the throne hangs the coat of arms of Archbishop Joachim Cardinal Meisner who is presently in office.