When
the Protestant Church split from the Catholic Church, one
of the arguments for reform was to protest the Church's
elaborate spending on palaces and cathedrals. But every
religion needs a central point of strength, so this building
was the Protestant answer to Saint Peter's in Vatican City.
It was also the official cathedral of the Prussian Hohenzollern
royal family. Like most great European churches, this isn't
the first one at this location. The previous cathedral was
built in the mid-18th century, but was destroyed. But further
back, this place became historically significant in 1536
when church on this site became the official collegiate
church. Before that it was a Dominican church. Three years
later it became a Lutheran church and in 1608 was named
the highest-ranking church in the area, then known as Cölln.
Just five years later, the church became Calvinist, and
the official royal court church. It was in the mid-1700's
that the then-worn church was replaced by a new cathedral.
That building remained until the late 1800's when the current
cathedral was built. It was damaged by Allied bombs during
the second World War, and took nearly 20 years to repair.
The resulting building isn't as tall as the original, but
it certainly remains an impressive and worthy structure.
-
In
2002, it cost €8,665.34 a day to run and maintain
the cathedral.
-
There
was once a mausoleum attached to the north side of the
cathedral.
-
1535
- The original Dominican church on this site becomes a
college church.
-
1539
- The church becomes Lutheran.
-
1613
- The church becomes Calvinist.
-
1747-1750
- A new cathedral is erected on the site.
-
1894-1905
- The current cathedral is erected on the site.
-
27
February, 1905 - The current cathedral opens.
-
24
May, 1944 - The cathedral is heavily damaged by bombs
during World War II.
-
1975
- The rebuilding of the cathedral is completed.
