Géfin Gyula: A szombathelyi székesegyház (Szombathely, 1946)

Képek jegyzéke

beams, boards, tiles and mortar together of bricks of the stave vault lay in high heaps topsy-turvy on the rows of the pews which were also shattered to shavings, (ill. 53.) The marble coating of the walls, pillars and cornice broke loose, the Ruins of the Choir and of the organ (ill. 54.) the figures of the Prophets, the puts of the Side- Altars, the Angel's heads, all lay shattered in the rubbish, the torn Altar-pictures stared like dirty rags at the onlooker. And on this picture of destruction peeped the steeples through a wide gap on the spot of the former roof-painting, representing the Birth of Mary, and the sun sent its rays upon this chaos so as by contrast to increase this mournful scene, (ill. 54., 55., 56., 57., 58.) The Transept, however, has withstood the destruction, not to speak of some cracks in the cupola, but Winterhalder's roof-painting so rich in colours and of mighty dimensions (ill. 2.) is destroyed (ill. 59.) The grisaille paintings, the stucco have come off. and also the delicately carved confessionals are wrecked. There is a tremendous hole in the cupola of the Sanctuary. Winterhalder's Angelus has crashed down together with the cupola. The lower semicirle of the Gloria is in pieces, the marble pillars of the High-Altar as well as the oak stalls are damaged, (ill. 60.)

As if by a wonder, the Relic-Shrine of St. Martin of Tours, the Patron of the town, as well as the marble Altar dedicated to him, Cortona's picture „Saul's Conversion", the Tabernacle and the Mensa have escaped the destruction. The Lady Chapel and the Vestry have in proportion, suffered least, having been farther away from the spot of explosion. The documents of the Archives of the Chapter could also be isaved.

The Restauration of the Cathedral

The great attachment which the Diocese Bishop, Alexander Kovács, our priests and our believers bear in their hearts towards the Cathedral have made it possible to begin the work of restoration, Our aim is to rebuild the Cathedral in its former splendour. The believers, the authorities, the Government, they all support our work with the same enthusiasm ready for any sacrifice, but the difficulties are many: lack of material, lack of expert workmen, the daily rising prices etc.

211