St. Patrokli, Soest
Today, the building's great green sandstone mass is impressive, but the most notable feature of the building is its 80-metre tall tower with four smaller turrets on its corners, which is often singled out by experts as the most beautiful Romanesque tower in Germany.
The painting of the main apse with a modified version of the Christ Pantokrator motif was carried out by the painter Peter Hecker in 1954, after the "oldest and most extensive" apse memorial to survive from Westphalia was destroyed in the Second World War.
The knight Walther, brother of Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, was buried in the crypt in 1075.
In a further phase of construction (Building IV) a large hall crypt, the apse and a vaulted choir were installed.
The old westwerk was made to appear part of the nave by the removal of supports, partitioning, and the installation of new vaulting in the last one and a half bays.
Master Sigefridus of Soest spent the years between 1313 and 1340 creating the silver-gilt shrine of St.
In the aerial attacks of 1945, the organ was destroyed, the apse was obliterated and there was severe damage to the spire and vaulting.
The local painter Hans Kaiser created windows for the westwerk and secondary crypt.
[4] A few parts were saved or stolen before the fire and several of these including a statue dating from 1340 are today in the Bode Museum.
Above in Romanesque majuscule was written SI DILIGITIS ME MANDATA MEA SERVATE (If you love me, obey my commands).
[7] On a column between the round arches of the organ loft on the west side is a statue of Patroclus.
He wears a suit of armour, bears the Imperial Eagle on his shield and has his sword drawn, ready to serve as protector of the order and the city.
Patroclus of Troyes was beheaded in 275 under Emperor Valerian, because he refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods.
In 1469, John of Dortmund produced the sonorous Our Lady´s bell which was the lowest note in the peal for centuries.
The peal of Soest's church is counted among the most historically and musically significant bell ensembles in Germany and beyond.
In the area which would later be the Duchy of Westphalia orders of cannonesses were frequently founded by the local nobility.
In Soest, the impetus for a foundation came at the beginning of the reign of Bruno the Great as Archbishop of Cologne (brother of Otto I[12] and son of Henry the Fowler.
The remains of Saint Patroclus of Troyes had been given to Archbishop Brun, when he was visiting the French court on a diplomatic matter.
[12] In his testament, therefore, Bruno left 100 pounds of silver, liturgical equipment and paraments for the project.
However, it remained a rather small chapter until it was expanded in the time of Archbishop Anno II (r. 1056–1075), who donated four further prebends.
The order formed its own district with Church immunity and also possessed a school for the pre-education of clergy.
Only once or twice a year did the provost visit St. Patrokli in Soest (in order to hold the church court).
