Collegiate Church of Holy Cross |
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It was founded in 979 by Bishop Notger. It was consecrated 23 October October 986 a year. In 1797, after the French Revolution, the canons were removed from the church. It again became a place of worship in the year 1802. In 1936 he was registered on Leaves of the Unique Walloon Heritage.
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In October 2013 church was added to the list of 67 most-endangered Belgian monuments, and in October 2014 it was added to the list of private, international non-profit organization World Monuments Watch acting for the protection of historic architecture and world heritage.
Church of Holy Cross, being one of seven Collegiates in Liege, originally built between the tenth and eleventh centuries, when the city was the capital of the bishopric and one of the most famous city centers of the Holy Roman Empire. The contemporary building was built in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, on the foundations of the original collegiate church. There is no certainty, but it is supposed that only a part of the sandstone wall, south of the eastern choir, is the remnant of the original collegiate church of the tenth century.
The total length of the building is 57 meters, width 25 meters, and the height of the nave vaults is 17 meters. It is a hall church with three naves of equal height. The western choir was built around 1200-1220 a year. Shows the strong character of the Rhine buildings. It is a transition style between the Romanesque style and Gothic style and consists of a narteks (in the architecture of early Christianity, Byzantine and early medieval period, a covered vestibule at the front, front wall of the church) topped with an octagonal belfry, adjacent to the apse.
In the middle of the narteks height there are four round towers. This part of the building was restored in the 19th century. Nowadays it serves as a baptistery (a building intended for performing baptism rites). The rest of the building is Gothic. In 1255 the eastern choir and transept were built, and the first two eastern bays of the nave in the years 1283 and 1287. The last two bays of the nave were built in 1332 a year. In the fifteenth century, chapels were built between the buttresses of the naves.
In the middle of the narteks height there are four round towers. This part of the building was restored in the 19th century. Nowadays it serves as a baptistery (a building intended for performing baptism rites). The rest of the building is Gothic. In 1255 the eastern choir and transept were built, and the first two eastern bays of the nave in the years 1283 and 1287. The last two bays of the nave were built in 1332 a year. In the fifteenth century, chapels were built between the buttresses of the naves.
Collegiate treasures:
The key of St. Hubert, which is one of the elements triptych of the True Cross. According to tradition, the key was given to Saint. Hubert during his visit to Rome in 772 year. He received it from Pope Gregory II. The key contains a piece of chain of St. Peter. This symbolic, bronze cast key was used to open the door of the Vatican Basilica's crypt containing the tomb of the first Pope.
The oak triptych of the Holy Cross, covered with gilded copper, is attributed to Godfryd de Huy (1160-1170). Two marble statues depicting Helena and her son Caesar Constantine are the work of Guillaume Coquelet (1662). Masterpiece Bertholet Flemalle (1614-1675) finding of the saint cross it was once part of a Renaissance altar, consecrated in 1674 a year. Unusual mausoleum of the canonist Hubert Mielemans, treasurer of the prince-bishop George Austrian. Many collegiate treasures are on loan, due to the poor church situation.
The oak triptych of the Holy Cross, covered with gilded copper, is attributed to Godfryd de Huy (1160-1170). Two marble statues depicting Helena and her son Caesar Constantine are the work of Guillaume Coquelet (1662). Masterpiece Bertholet Flemalle (1614-1675) finding of the saint cross it was once part of a Renaissance altar, consecrated in 1674 a year. Unusual mausoleum of the canonist Hubert Mielemans, treasurer of the prince-bishop George Austrian. Many collegiate treasures are on loan, due to the poor church situation.
This beautiful church has been destroying for years, waiting for renewal. In the year 2017, the Minister of Wallonia announced the transfer of 15 millions of euros needed for the renovation of the collegiate church. The total cost of the project is to be 17 million.
Address:
Rue Sainte-Croix, 4000 Liege
www.fabrice-muller.be/sc |
Opening hours:
Due to the poor technical condition of the collegiate, it is closed to visitors.
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