10.01.2010

Hildesheim cathedral was closed with great programme on Sunday

Hildesheim (bph) It was a weekend of the last times: The last concert, the last church service, the last chiming of the bells. Each time about 1.000 people witnessed the great programme for the closing down of Hildesheim cathedral on Saturday and Sunday and became witnesses for the symbolical closing by suffragan bishop and domedechant suffragan bishop Hans-Georg Koitz and bishop Norbert Trelle on Sunday afternoon. In the upcoming years the cathedral will be restorated efficiently and is not accessable during this period.

Suffragan bishop and domedechant suffragan bishop Hans-Georg Koitz (left) and bishop Norbert Trelle lock the door of the northparadise of the cathedral; Origing of photo material: bph

Already at the choir- and orchestraconcert on Saturday evening no seat was to get despite the bad weather, when the choirs of the cathedral together with the soloists interpreted the mass op. 36 for two choirs and two organs by Charles-Marie Widor and the romantic oratorio “Star of Bethlehem” by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger. Most people stayed after the concert, to be showed around by members of the diocesan chapter through the church and to study the architecture-model with the intended building measures.

With huge anticipation of the upcoming, but wistfulness as well the people celebrated the last mass with bishop Norbert Trelle in the cathedral on Sunday morning. The bishop-church will shine in new splendour after the restoration, the bishop promised in his preaches. At the same time he heard the fearful question of many people: Will I live to see the reopening in the year 2014? The diocese-head advised all, to see it as act of divine providence. “If the lord wants it, everybody of us is going to witness the completion of the construction work.” Trelle thanked the staff of the planning-group, especially the host suffragan bishop Hans-Georg Koitz, vicar general Dr. Werner Schreer, the staff of the cathedral-museum and the architects. The thoughts of the bishop in this hour also were at the praying people, who made this place to a chapel through the centuries. “We shall renovate ourselves in the love”, the bishop claimed towards the believers and begged god, to save the construction work of accidents and other damages.

For the last time about 2.30 pm the six bells of the cathedral chimed with a melancholic F-minor-chord, before suffragan bishop Hans-Georg Koitz and bishop Trelle together locked the door to the northparadise. Originally Bernward’s doors should be locked. But the severe frost freezed the mighty bronzedoors over.

The restoration and reconfiguation of the cathedral as well as the reconstruction of St. Anthony’s into the new cathedral-museum is estimated to cost 29,98 millions. The diocese contributes 7,22 millions. The diocese wishes of grants by huge investors like amongst others the European Union, the land of Lower Saxony and diverse foundations and aid organisations. Not less than 2,3 millions euros are to be raised by donations. The construction work in the cathedral and St. Anthony’s church are going to last four and a half years. During this period the basilica St. Godehard is bishop-church. By the time of the 1200. anniversary of the diocese in the year 2015 the works have to be completed.