Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, is a rather special church: it is believed to be the burial place of the famous Saint Patrick, responsible for the Christianization of Ireland in the 5th century. Magnificent and still in use, this church attracts thousands of visitors every day to pay homage to the saint. A place not to be missed!
Downpatrick Cathedral was built in the 12th century to serve initially as an Augustinian monastery, before becoming home to Benedictine monks brought by Jean de Courcy, the Norman knight who conquered Ulster in 1177. At the time, monks gathered here to worship, learn and create sumptuous illuminated manuscripts.
Unfortunately, a terrible earthquake destroyed the building in 1245. Despite several restorations, it was burnt down by Edward Bruce in 1315.
Rebuilt several times, it was finally abandoned for 2 centuries before being completely rebuilt in the 18th century. In order to preserve the historic character of the building, it was built on old foundations and ruined walls. Numerous Celtic crosses have also been preserved and integrated into the central nave, and Gothic towers have been erected to make the building a cathedral in the truest sense.
It was finally inaugurated in 1818, and is still in operation today…
Don’t hesitate to take a guided tour of the interior, where you’ll discover a Latin cross plan, illuminated by the subdued light of colorful stained glass windows. The impressive nave is a tribute to Saint Patrick, with paintings, statues and stained glass windows recounting the great episodes in the evangelization of Ireland. The guide will tell you all about the saint’s life, and the various steps he took to Christianize Ireland.
Don’t miss the Celtic crosses, and the building’s typically Gothic architecture: it’s a real splendor! And don’t miss its 11th-century granite baptismal font, discovered in 1927 when it was being used as a drinking trough. It was installed in the cathedral in 1931 and remains one of the building’s treasures today!
The icing on the cake: Down Cathedral is the presumed burial place of Saint Patrick. The latter was buried here centuries before (on March 17, 461), alongside Saint Brigitte and Saint Columcille, two other great figures of Christianity at the time… We look forward to seeing you there! The tomb is located on the cathedral’s forecourt, and takes the form of a huge megalith standing there, topped by a commemorative plaque.
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3.80/5 (10 votes)
