Purpose of a cathedral

A cathedral is the main church of a diocese, where you will find the bishop’s throne, the cathedra, which is symbol of his authority and apostolic mission.

It is the natural place for believers to gather around the bishop, for the great feasts of the liturgical year (Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter, the Ascension, Pentecost, the Assumption…), and where great gatherings for the diocese are organised, such as the Ordination Masses.

A cathedral is also a testament to the faith of all those who participated in its construction over centuries, embellished it and brought it to life. It has a crypt where the late bishops rest.

Beyond its main purpose of being a place of worship, for many visitors, it offers the chance to discover its rich architecture and heritage. Metz Cathedral is the cathedral with the largest area covered by stained glass windows in all of France, and has glass walls from all ages, including works from the 20th century by artists such as François Villon, Georges Bissière and Marc Chagall. As the most significant landmark in the city of Metz, the Cathedral contributes to the reputation of the entire city and to the touristic appeal in the urban area. Due to the Concordat in Alsace-Moselle, various religious and patriotic celebrations take place here, in particular, to commemorate past wars (8 May (VE Day), 15 August (The Assumption), 11 November (Remembrance Day)) .