An exhibition of artefacts and remains dating back to the 7th century has opened at York Minster.
At 78ft (24m) high, York Minster's Great East Window is the UK's largest medieval stained glass window.
BBC: Metal York Minster 'orb' displays medieval stained glass
York Minster has rejected calls for the recently discovered remains of King Richard III to be buried there.
BBC: York Minster says Richard III should be buried in Leicester
Reports show he put in motion plans to build a chapel at York Minster where some say he intended to be buried.
WSJ: Bones of Contention: If the Skeleton Is Richard III, Where to Bury It?
Canon Glyn Webster, acting dean of York Minster, said people would be able to see for the first time the window's "rich colour and artistry".
BBC: Metal York Minster 'orb' displays medieval stained glass
Runners will pass York's historic city walls, the famous Betty's tea rooms and York Minster, and go through villages in North Yorkshire and the East Riding.
The work features musicians from across Yorkshire, including a Sheffield brass band, Columbian drummers from Leeds, the York Minster carillon player and a harpist from Haworth.
Last week two Fathers 4 Justice members held a rooftop protest at York Minster and 12 protesters disrupted a service of the Church of England's General Synod.
However, the Plantagenet Alliance, which includes 15 of Richard III's relatives, want the licence to be overturned and the king to be laid to rest in York Minster.
BBC: Richard III's relatives seek judicial review over burial
However, the Plantagenet Alliance, which includes 15 of Richard III's relatives, want the skeleton to be laid to rest in York Minster and are seeking a judicial review.
But York Minster said it "commends Richard to Leicester's care".
BBC: York Minster says Richard III should be buried in Leicester
Designs have been put together by Andrew Arroll, who is also architect to York Minster, and St Laurence's said they would be going on display in the coming months.
BBC: St Laurence's church in Ludlow scales back redevelopment
The orb will remain at York Minster until 2015.
BBC: Metal York Minster 'orb' displays medieval stained glass
More than 7, 500 people have signed an online petition in favour of keeping the king's remains in Leicester, but nearly 25, 000 have signed up to support re-interring his remains in York Minster.
They are likely to tweet from carol, crib and midnight services, before carrying on into Christmas morning when the highlights of the sermons at Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and Durham Cathedral will be tweeted.
"York Minster has stood at the heart of the city for centuries, but even before that, this site was instrumental in the growth of York, from a military barracks into a major conurbation, " said the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull.
The initial discovery of the remains provoked much debate in Britain as to what would happen with the body, if it were proven to be that of Richard III, with many calling for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, and others backing a burial in York Minster, in keeping with the king's heritage as a member of the House of York.
The Dean of York said the Minster was a major influence on national history.
The Archbishop of York's Palace, next to Southwell Minster, is the former home of Tudor statesman Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who served under Henry VIII.
Sarah Brown, director of the York Glaziers Trust, which carried out the restoration of the five panels displayed in the orb, said the minster was "a great treasure house of stained glass".
BBC: Metal York Minster 'orb' displays medieval stained glass
应用推荐