Editing Cologne Cathedral (section)

=== Merovingian episcopal church ===

[[Maternus of Cologne]] was the first bishop of Cologne in around 313.<ref>Werner Eck: ''Frühes Christentum in Köln.'' In: Ulrich Krings, Rainer Will (ed.): ''Das Baptisterium am Dom , Kölns erster Taufort.'' Köln 2009, pp. 11–21, here p. 12.</ref> However, Cologne's Christian community, still small at this time, did not gather in a church, but in a residential building, which is thought to have been located on the cathedral hill below today's choir.<ref>Georg Hauser: ''Schichten und Geschichte unter dem Dom, die Kölner Domgrabung,'' Köln 2003, p. 19.</ref> After the collapse of Roman rule on the Rhine, the [[Merovingian dynasty|Merovingian]] petty kings residing in Cologne built an episcopal church on this site in the 6th century, which was eventually around 40 to 50 meters long and equipped with an [[Ambon (liturgy)|ambon]]. This building, which was probably built by King [[Theudebert I]], served as a burial place for the royal family; among others, the king's wife [[Wisigard]] was buried here around 537. However, the excavation finds under the cathedral choir do not allow a complete reconstruction of the buildings from the Merovingian period.<ref>Georg Hauser: ''Schichten und Geschichte unter dem Dom, die Kölner Domgrabung.'' Köln 2003, p. 25.</ref>