On the other side of the ambulatory here stands the Organ of Mary [99]. In 1963 the mechanical workings of an 1874 organ were built into a Baroque organ case dating from c. 1700. This was the result. PLAN
83. CENTRAL MOSAIC
As we retrace our steps around the ambulatory in order to capture the clerestory windows, we observe this central mosaic [79] with Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden holding a plan of the Cathedral. He laid the foundation stone in 1248.
84. CHOIR CLERESTORY WINDOWS
The clerestory windows in the choir [56] cover over 850 square metres (1017 square yards). This makes them the largest cycle of stained glass windows in existence from the 14th century in Europe. Since 95% is original, the percentage of old glass is unusually high.
85. SOUTH CHOIR CLERESTORY WINDOWS
The clerestory windows continue round to the South side above the Chapel of Our Lady.
86. SHRINE OF THE THREE MAGI
The ambulatory encloses an area called the Inner Choir. At the Eastern end of this is the Shrine of the Three Magi [50]. The shrine contains relics of the Three Wise Men with a traceable date of 1164. On the shrine are depictions of Christ, the Magi, Old Testament prophets and kings, and SS Felix and Nabor.
87. HIGH ALTAR
Adjacent to the Shrine is the High Altar [49]. The altar consists of a single monolithic black marble slab with elaborate mouldings. It is one of the largest in Christianity, and is the largest stone in the Cathedral.
88. LEAVING THE CHOIR
Returning to the South ambulatory we look back. The Inner Choir is on our left, several of the radiating chapels ahead. We are reminded of the many pillar figures. and the angels on the golden band encircling the Inner Choir.
89. STATUES
Technically we have now arrived at the South transept. Towards the centre of the Cathedral we find a gilded wooden statue of St Joseph protecting the Cathedral [103], a 12 foot high statue of St Christopher probably carved by Master Tilmann c. 1470, and a charming statue of St Anthony.
91. ALTARPIECE OF AGILOLPHUS
The central panel depicts events from the Life and Passion of Christ, while the wings show events from the lives of SS Blasius and Agilolphus. This large carved altarpiece [107] is 5.5 m./18 ft. high and 6.8 m./22 ft. wide. It was carved in Antwerp c. 1520 for another church.
92. WINDOW OF PAUL
The stained glass window [108] was endowed by the Cologne-Minden Railway Co. in 1868. It was completely destroyed during WW II, but reconstructed from existing documents in 1994. The main scene is the conversion of Paul. Below this stand the four Greek Fathers.
93. GROUP OF FIGURES
A small group of figures stand beneath the Window of Paul. They appear to be the Magi, but in fact there are four figures (the fourth figure not shown, to the left).
94. SOUTH TRANSEPT WALL
The South wall [110] was designed by Cathedral architect Zwirner and completed in 1848. Above the doors are 12 statues, with saints below and angels above, carved by Peter Fuchs c. 1870. Notice the paintings on either side of the doors, and the flanking pillar figures.
95. SOUTH TRANSEPT PAINTINGS
The large painting at right is called Assumption [111]. It was painted on canvas by Nazarene Friedrich Overbeck in Rome from 1847–1854. I have labelled the painting at left as ‘Mystery Painting’! I have been unable to identify it or locate its position, although I believe it is to be found in this area of the Cathedral. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
96. ANNUNCIATION
The painting to the right of the South transept doors is Annunciation [112]. It is a 1712 canvas copy of the devotional image from SS Annunziata in Florence, dating from the 14th century.
97. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW
In 2007, the Cathedral received a new stained glass window in the South transept. With 113 square metres (1,220 sq ft) of glass, the window was created by the German artist Gerhard Richter. It is composed of 11,500 identically sized pieces of coloured glass resembling pixels, randomly arranged by computer, which create a colourful ‘carpet’. Since the loss of the original window in World War II, the space had been temporarily filled with plain glass.
98. SOUTH TRANSEPT CLERESTORY WINDOWS
Some of the clerestory windows in this transept are plain, but others have coloured panels. In the West windows [109] the figures of 12 saints were designed by Michael Welter c. 1870.
99. ACROSS THE TRANSEPTS
A view from South to North ... . The pillar figures are with us always, and we notice some lovely windows in the West wall of the transept. Just behind the visitors near the centre hangs an old banner.
100. PILLAR FIGURES
Most of the pillar figures stand beneath a decorated canopy. They would have some stories to tell about events they have observed ... .