St. Michael's Cathedral, Qingdao
St. Michael's Cathedral Kathedrale St. Michael (in German) 圣弥爱尔大教堂 (in Chinese) | ||
---|---|---|
Year consecrated 1934 | | |
Status | Active | |
Location | ||
Location | China | |
Municipality | Qingdao | |
Geographic coordinates | 36°04′05″N 120°18′56″E / 36.067972°N 120.315611°E | |
Architecture | ||
Architect(s) | Alfred Fräbel, SVD | |
Type | Cathedral | |
Style | neo-Romanesque | |
General contractor | Arthur Bialucha | |
Groundbreaking | 1931 | |
Completed | 1934 | |
Specifications | ||
Direction of façade | Southwest | |
Capacity | 1000+ | |
Length | 65.9 metres (216 ft) | |
Width | 37.6 metres (123 ft) | |
Height (max) | 56 metres (184 ft) | |
Spire(s) | 2 | |
Spire height | 56 metres (184 ft) |
St. Michael's Cathedral (
St. Michael's Cathedral is the product of a strong German presence in Shandong Province in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the mid-19th century the European powers forcibly opened China to foreign trade. The
History
After China's defeat in the
German presence in Qingdao
In the early 1890s, the German Empire had been considering occupying
The
![A black and white photograph, taken from an oblique view of the SVD Mission Hall](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Qingdao_Catholic_Mission.jpg/220px-Qingdao_Catholic_Mission.jpg)
The cathedral was built by the
Design and construction
![A black and white photograph of Saint Michael's Cathedral, from the front, with twin bell towers flanking the doorway](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/St._Michaels_Cathedral_1935.png/200px-St._Michaels_Cathedral_1935.png)
In autumn 1898 Bishop von Anzer had Father Franz Bartels[note 1] appointed as pastor in Qingdao. Bishop von Anzer also commissioned Bartels with planning and constructing the Catholic mission. Bartels initially stayed in a house that was part of a Taoist temple. Adjacent to his house he had a provisional chapel built which served as a place of worship/service for the European inhabitants of Qingdao until 1902 when a mission hall with a chapel was built. Major Kopka von Lossow, commander of the Third Sea Battalion which was stationed in Qingdao, ordered about a hundred of his men to attend services every Sunday.[11]
On a hill chosen by Bishop von Anzer,[11] Father Bartels purchased some land on Qufu Road, having a printing house and the SVD mission hall erected in 1902.[10][12] The mission hall was converted to a school[note 2] in 1922,[13] and was operating as of May 2010.
The Holy Ghost Convent was also built on the same hill, occupied by Franciscan sisters who worked as nurses and teachers.[11]
The cathedral's original architect (commissioned by Bishop Augustin Henninghaus) designed a three-aisled
Construction began on May 5, 1931, under Brother Theophorus Kleemann, SVD, who became ill and died on September 12, 1931; Arthur Bialucha, a German architect living in Qingdao who had already completed several projects for the SVD, took over as construction superintendent.[16] Construction was frustrated in 1933, when Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany and prohibited the transfer of money overseas.[14] The diocese independently shouldered the cost of finishing the cathedral. This required a number of design changes to reduce costs.[14] The changes are evident in drawings published before completion of construction, which show the roofs of the towers as bell-shaped. However, the roofs of the completed structure were changed to spires.[12] Construction was finished in 1934, and the cathedral was consecrated on October 28 that year.[16]
Some sources state that St. Michael's Cathedral was originally named "St. Emil's Church".
1938–1949: occupation, liberation, and civil war
The Japanese reoccupied Qingdao in January 1938.
The Reds do not slacken and will in the end remain victorious. Almost the entire province is in their hands. For the time being they still give face, but when they are firmly established, they will no doubt show us their teeth, as they are already doing in some areas. We are facing the future with much anxiety. Most missionaries are convinced that, once the Reds are in power, they will expel us all.[21]
Father Olbert was appointed Bishop of Qingdao two years later.[15]
On June 2, 1949, the
1949–1976: Under Mao
Soon after the Communists assumed control, a combination of assertive nationalism and socialist ideology led to the eradication of the Western presence in China, including Western culture and products. "The denunciation of anything Western as 'capitalist,' '
By late 1957, due to the prior expulsion of foreign clergy and the subsequent imprisonment of Chinese clergy, 120 out of 145 dioceses and prefectures apostolic were without ordinaries.
The cathedral was badly damaged during the
One day, scaffolding was tied to the church steeples. People said that the crosses would be removed. The news spread throughout the city. Numerous people watched from windows, from the streets, from the beaches, and from the mountaintops as several small, ghostlike figures climbed up to the crosses. Against the blue sky they opened a saw. It was said that by evening, two people had fallen from the tower and died on the spot. People also say that this church held one of the greatest pipe organs in China. They say that when it played, the whole city could hear its music. But this rare treasure was also destroyed by the Red Guards. The next morning, seeing the towers of the church, the steeple had been denuded, and the towers were bald, like the shaved heads of criminals. The onlookers felt extremely uncomfortable, as if the whole area had been corrupted; made evil. Not long after that, I occasionally passed by the church and was astonished to see the topped crosses: what originally appeared to be two thin needles [when viewed from the towers] was actually the size of two coarse, heavy men, one taller than the other. Since then, the cathedral has become a warehouse.[29][30][31]
The original crosses were rescued by local Catholics and buried in the hills.[32] The 2400-pipe organ destroyed by the Red Guards had been one of the two largest in Asia.[33]
Restoration
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) subsequently repudiated the Cultural Revolution. A major document presented at the September 1979 Fourth Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, gave a "preliminary assessment" of the entire 30-year period of CCP rule. At the plenum, party Vice Chairman Ye Jianying declared the Cultural Revolution "an appalling catastrophe" and "the most severe setback to [the] socialist cause since [1949]."[34] The CCP's condemnation of the Cultural Revolution culminated in the Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China, adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. This stated that "Comrade Mao Zedong was a great Marxist and a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist and theorist. It is true that he made gross mistakes during the "cultural revolution", but, if we judge his activities as a whole, his contributions to the Chinese revolution far outweigh his mistakes. His merits are primary and his errors secondary."[35]
The change in prevailing political views was favourable to St. Michael's Cathedral; the Chinese government funded the cathedral's restoration efforts.
The change in prevailing political views also allowed for rapprochement with Chinese clergy formerly imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. In 1985 Li Mingshu was allowed an official post teaching at the seminary of Jinan. In 1994 he was transferred to the service of the Diocese of Qingdao, and was appointed the Bishop of Qingdao in 2000. Upon his consecration as bishop, he took the name "Joseph".[26]
Description
Exterior and plan
![A street with Saint Michael's Cathedral rising in the distance. Cars are parked along one side of the street, and a row of four story buildings stand along the other side.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/St_Michaels_Urban_Context.png/220px-St_Michaels_Urban_Context.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/%E5%9C%A3%E5%BC%A5%E9%A2%9D%E5%B0%94%E4%B8%BB%E6%95%99%E5%BA%A7%E5%A0%82_Kathedrale_St._Michael.jpg/220px-%E5%9C%A3%E5%BC%A5%E9%A2%9D%E5%B0%94%E4%B8%BB%E6%95%99%E5%BA%A7%E5%A0%82_Kathedrale_St._Michael.jpg)
The cathedral stands atop a hill in the center of what was the original settlement of the city of Qingdao, at 15 Zhejiang Road (formerly Bremen Strasse[14]) on the east side of Zhongshan Road in Shinan District. The church is built in the historic style of German Romanesque. It is cruciform in plan, having a nave flanked by a lower single aisle on either side, crossed by a transept, and with a semi-circular apse projecting at the east end.
The cathedral is 65.9 metres (216 ft) long and the transept is 37.6 metres (123 ft) wide, with an exterior height of 18 metres (59 ft). The towers are 56 metres (184 ft) in height,[17] and have Rhenish helm spires, each topped by a 4.5-metre (15 ft) cross.[38] One tower contains a single large bell, and the other three smaller bells.[36]
The
In his book, German Architecture in China, Warner Torsten writes of the cathedral:
According to residents] the cathedral is far too large for the scale of Qingdao. Its position on top of a hill makes this even more evident. Perhaps the idea was to produce a powerful building to hold its own with the Protestant Church, which for 20 years had been the largest religious building in Qingdao, or perhaps the intention was to outstrip the 46 metre-high towers of the Franciscan church in Jinan. The towers of the cathedral in Qingdao were higher than all the other churches in the major cities of Northern China – Tianjin, Beijing, Dalian, or Jinan. They dominate the silhouette of Qingdao; they are particularly impressive from a ship entering the harbour.[12]
Interior
![The sanctuary of a cathedral. On a raised dais, the low altar stands, flanked by Christmas trees. Behind it, the high altar is visible, with the tabernacle on it. A ciborium is over the high altar, directly under an arch with a domed apse behind it.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/St_Michaels_Cathedral_Qingdao_Interior.jpg/220px-St_Michaels_Cathedral_Qingdao_Interior.jpg)
The total floor area of St. Michael's Cathedral is 2,740 square metres (29,500 sq ft).
The nave extends into a high vaulted apse (pictured right) at the east end. The aisles on either side of the nave are continued around the apse, making an ambulatory. Seven chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling over the main aisle.[29] Beneath the chancel arch stands the high altar, under an ornate baldachin. The ciborium over the high altar bears the Latin words Venite Adoremus Dominum,[33] "Come adore the Lord." Within the sanctuary stands a second, portable, altar, upon which most masses are celebrated.
According to Lonely Planet, "The interior is splendid, with white walls, gold piping … and a marvellously painted apse."[32]
![Interior of the end of the cathedral showing the main door with a choir loft above it on which stands a large pipe organ above which is a blue rose window with a dove at its centre](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Jaeger_Brommer_Cathedral_Qingdao.jpg/220px-Jaeger_Brommer_Cathedral_Qingdao.jpg)
The
In 2006, the construction and installation of a massive 12-by-12-metre (39 ft × 39 ft) Jäger & Brommer pipe organ (pictured at left) was commissioned for St. Michael's Cathedral at a cost of 700,000 euros, to be ready in time for the
The north transept contains three large murals featuring
The south transept also contains three large murals:
Services
The church is active and as of 2008 more than 10,000 Catholics in Qingdao attend services there.[41] According to December 2009 and January 2010 church bulletins, mass is celebrated daily by Bishop Li Mingshu at 6 am, with additional masses on Sunday and festivals on Easter and Christmas. Services are held in Korean and Chinese, with one Korean and several Chinese priests on site.[44][45]
Ordinaries
![A dark granite tombstone with Chinese writing](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Han_Xirang_Tombstone.jpg/220px-Han_Xirang_Tombstone.jpg)
Below is a list of bishops who have reigned from St. Michael's Cathedral, since its consecration in 1934.
- Georg Weig, SVD † (Appointed 18 March 1925 – Died 3 October 1941)[15]
- Thomas Tien Ken-sin (Tienchensing), SVD † (Appointed 10 November 1942 – 11 April 1946 Appointed Archbishop of Peking)[15]
- SX † (Appointed 1946 – Resigned 1947)[15]
- Augustin Olbert, SVD † (Appointed 8 July 1948[15] – Arrested 1951, Imprisoned Until 1953, then deported to Germany. Died 18 Nov 1964[15])
- Paul Han Xirang, OFM † (Appointed 24 April 1988 – Died 6 March 1992)[28] Note: Consecrated as bishop and appointed without papal mandate.
- Joseph Li Mingshu (Appointed 2000)[26]
Notes
- ISBN 978-90-5867-102-8. Several sources mention him by his Chinese name only.
- ^ Dexian Primary School, on Dexian road.
- ^ For example, chinaculture.org Archived 2011-08-19 at the Wayback Machine and travel websites (e.g. AsiaHotels Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ The photo is designated as Bundesarchiv Bild (Federal Archive Image) 137-041054, and is available online at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ^ a b Zhihou Xia (September 5, 2008). "Treaty Port". www.britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c Gerber, Lydia (December 2004). "The Role of German Missionaries in Post-Boxer North China" (PDF). Asia Pacific: Perspectives. University of San Francisco. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-55750-309-1.
- ^ a b Matzat, Wilhelm (May 2003). "Landmann Gottfried 1860–1926 Uhrmacher, Optiker, Bierbrauer" [Gottfried Landmann, 1860–1926: Watchmaker, Optician, Beer Brewer]. tsingtau.org (in German). Wilhelm Matzat. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-8004-1094-1.
- ^ a b c Limbrock, E. (1909). "Society of the Divine Word in the Catholic Encyclopedia". www.newadvent.org. New Advent. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
- ISBN 978-90-5867-315-2.
- ^ "Yanzhou (兖州)". www.gcatholic.org. gcatholic.org. May 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Divine Word Missionary Who Will Be Canonised Is Known for His Love of China". Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Archives. August 31, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "St. Emil Church". ChinaCulture.org. Ministry of Culture, People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 3-515-08570-X.
- ^ ISBN 3-433-02429-4.
- ^ 斯泰尔修会圣言会会馆 [Steyl SVD Mission Hall]. www.qdda.gov.cn (in Chinese). Qingdao Municipal Archives. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 李明 (Li Ming). "圣弥爱尔大教堂" [St. Michael's Cathedral]. www.qdda.gov.cn (in Chinese). Qingdao Municipal Archives. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Diocese of Qingdao (青島)". www.gcatholic.org. gcatholic.org. May 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ a b Matzat, Wilhelm (May 2003). "Bialucha, Arthur (1880–1947), Architekt" [Bialucha, Arthur (1880–1947), Architect]. tsingtau.org (in German). Wilhelm Matzat. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-7-5436-2504-4.
- ^ a b "Qingdao Profile". Qingdao Government Affairs Online. Qingdao Municipal Government. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ISBN 0-19-509514-6.
- ^ Yang, Zhiguo (1998). U.S. Marines in Qingdao: Military-Civilian Interaction, Nationalism, and China's Civil War 1945–1949 (Ph. D. thesis). University of Maryland.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-515-08423-9.
- ^ Xu Jing (10 August 2007). "History of Qingdao". www.chinadaily.com.cn. China Daily. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- S2CID 143106032. Archived from the original(PDF) on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ISSN 0967-8948. Archived from the originalon June 23, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Bishop Augustin Olbert, SVD †". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Shandong: ordination d'un évêque "officiel" pour le diocèse de Qingdao après huit années de vacance" [Shandong: Bishop's ordination "official" for the Diocese of Qingdao after an eight year vacancy]. eglasie.mepasie.org (in French). Eglises D'Asie. Sep 2000. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Wiest, Jean-Paul (June 20, 2002). Understanding the Roman Catholic Church in China (PDF). Hong Kong: U.S. Catholic China Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Brender, Andreas. "Katholische Bischöfe in China" [Catholic Bishops in China] (in German). Andreas Brender. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c d 青岛天主教堂 [Qingdao Catholic Church] (in Chinese). 88gogo.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c 青岛攻略 [Qingdao Raiders] (in Chinese). mafengwo.cn. Archived from the original on 2010-04-11. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c 汪稼明 (Sep 2002). "汪稼明:青岛老房子的故事" [Wang Jia-Ming: The story of an old house in Qingdao]. www.qingdaonews.com (in Chinese). Qingdao News. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-74059-915-3.
- ^ a b c "St. Michael's Cathedral". China Daily. 26 February 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ^ Poon, Leon. "The People's Republic Of China: IV". History of China. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
- ^ Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (June 27, 1981). "Comrade Mao Zedong's Historical Role and Mao Zedong Thought --Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China (abridged)". Communist Party of China. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c St. Michael's Cathedral (Sign). St. Michael's Cathedral Courtyard, Qingdao: Roman Catholic Church.
- .
- ^ a b c 青岛旅游:天主教堂 [Qingdao Tourism: Catholic Church]. www.sd.xinhuanet.com (in Chinese). Xinhua News. 7 August 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-385-50819-3.
- ^ Pang, Damon (2007-12-07). "Most-loved Yuletide melody in spotlight". The Standard. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c "St. Michael's Cathedral". China Central Television. 2008-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ Tombstone of Georg Weig (Grave marker). Qingdao, China: Roman Catholic Diocese of Qingdao. 1941.
- ^ Tombstone of Han Xirang (Grave marker). Qingdao, China: Roman Catholic Diocese of Qingdao. 1992.
- ^ St. Michael's Cathedral. December 25, 2009. Church Bulletin.
- ^ St. Michael's Cathedral. January 10, 2010. Church Bulletin.
External links
Media related to St. Michael's Cathedral, Qingdao at Wikimedia Commons