Cathedral and Metropolitan Church St. Stephen's in Vienna [antikvár]

Cathedral and Metropolitan ChurchST. STEPHEN'S IN VIENNAChronological table with historical notes on the building1147 Consecration of the first Romanesque church of St. Stephen as a founda-tion of the episcopate of Passau (hence the dedication to St. Stephen, thefirst martyr, who is the patron saint of Passau cathedral). Possibly in-tended as the church of a suffragan bishop; at all events founded as aparish church. The Romanesque building was only slightly smaller thanthe present Gothic one. The lower storey of the western complex with theprojecting west portal has survived from this period.1221First mention in a historical document.1237In honour of Frederick ll's visit - the first time an emperor of the HolyRoman Empire had resided for a few months in Vienna - the great westportal, popularly known as the "Riesentor", was remodelled. This wasfollowed by alterations to the west gallery and the erection of the westtowers. Most of the sculpture in the west portal, the vaulting, capitals andwheel windows of the west gallery and west towers have come down tous from this time. Whether the whole church was vaulted at this stage isstill a matter of question.1258 Fire in the city. The degree in which the Romanesque church was af-fected by this catastrophe is not clear. Certainly no completely newchurch was undertaken, as only a single complex of Romanesque founda-tions exists (findings of excavations after the fire of 1945).1263 Reconsecration after the fire.1304-1340 Chancel built as a three-aisled hall with three polygonal apses. Originallya civic endowment, subsequently ducal (note the heraldic stained glassin the choir). At first only the outer wall was erected, the Romanesque