Marienbasilika (Phoenix)
The Marienbasilika ( English St. Mary's Basilica ), officially the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary , is a Roman Catholic church in Phoenix , the capital of the US state Arizona . The church of the Diocese of Phoenix with the title of a minor basilica has been looked after by the Franciscan Friars since 1895 .
history
The current church replaced an earlier adobe church that was built in 1881 to measure 18 × 12 meters. Construction on the church began in 1902 and was completed in 1914. The church was consecrated in 1915 and was the only parish church in Phoenix until 1924. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978 .
Pope John Paul II elevated St. Mary's Church to the rank of a minor basilica in 1985, two years later he visited St. Mary's Church and spoke to thousands of people from the balcony on the facade. St. Mary's became the 32nd basilica in the United States and is the only basilica in Arizona.
architecture
The three-aisled hall church was designed based on the Spanish mission and colonial style with a double tower facade . The wider central nave is designed with four cross vaults that transfer the weight of the ceiling to the pillars. The vault in front of the apse is designed as a dome with a lantern for lighting . A small lantern also rises above the sanctuary to illuminate the altar. The two towers carry four bells and are closed with onion domes, in keeping with the southern German origin of the pastor Novatus Benzing and the architecture consultant Leonard Darscheid.
Furnishing
The major neo-Gothic stained glass was made by the Emil Frei Studio in Missouri. The large upper stained glass windows show scenes from the life of St. Virgin Mary , while the lower nave and transept show images of popular saints of the Franciscan order and heritage of cultures represented in the parish at the time (German, Spanish, Irish). Also noteworthy are the Stations of the Cross at Andrew Kaletta Studios in St. Louis. They are not just painted, but cast in high relief on a gold background, which highlights the figures and their detailed features. The organ with 26 registers above the entrance was built by the Schantz Organ Company.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ St. Mary's Basilica at gcatholic.org
- ↑ a b Entry in the National Register Information System . National Park Service , accessed August 13, 2019
- ↑ History of the Basilica (English)
Coordinates: 33 ° 27 '2.5 " N , 112 ° 4' 6.3" W.