St. Godehard Church

St. Godehard is a Romanesque church in Hildesheim, Germany, formerly the church of a Benedictine abbey. It remained almost unaltered through the centuries and was not damaged much in World War II. In 1963, it was awarded the title of a Basilica minor by Pope Paul VI. It is a church of the Catholic parish Heilig Kreuz. The basilica has served as the cathedral of the bishop of Hildesheim from 1945 to 1960, when the Hildesheim Cathedral was destroyed and rebuilt, and from 2010, when restoration of the cathedral began. The Hezilo chandelier was installed in St. Godehard during the restoration time.

Godehard of Hildesheim, a Benedictine and an influential bishop of Hildesheim from 1022 to 1038, was canonized in 1133. The same year, Bishop Bernard of Hildesheim founded the monastery and church in his honour. The church was completed in 1172 and consecrated by Bischof Adelog to St. Mary and St. Godehard.

The former convent buildings are used for the Fachhochschule für Verwaltung und Rechtspflege (University of Applied Sciences for administration and law).

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Godehardsplatz 5, Hildesheim, Germany

Details

Founded: 1172
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)