Landmark German church (in Dresden) completes rise from the ashes

[lebkuchen]

Sixty years after it was destroyed by Allied bombs in World War II, Dresden's rebuilt Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, was re-consecrated.

The painstakingly restored baroque church and its spectacular dome, originally built in 1743, is a symbol both of the wartime suffering of German civilians and of reconciliation between former enemies.

The service of consecration was the culmination of an 11-year, 180 million euro (218 million dollar) project that saw the church reborn after lying in ruins for almost half a century.

The Dresden Bishop Jochen Bohl said in a sermon: "A deep wound that has bled for so long can be healed. From hate and evil a community of reconciliation can grow, which makes peace possible."

At least 35,000 people perished in the British and US bombing of the eastern city on February 13-14, 1945, less than three months before the end of the war.

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The Duke of Kent, who spearheaded a British campaign to raise 1.5 million euros, represented the royal family at the service.

And Queen Elizabeth II had sent Koehler a letter expressing her happiness at the church's rebirth.

In a symbolic gesture, Britain, which sent the first wave of bombers to level the city, donated the golden cross and orb that sits atop the dome.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051030/ts_afp/germanyhistorywwiibritain_051030143459


Germans recently told me that the US didn't donate to this cause.

[wake.up.america]

1. I hope soon to see the church.

Hast du den Film "Das Feuer" gesehen?

[VTMechEngr]

7. nein

Ich habe nicht der film gesehen.

[Atlas Mugged]

2. I have pictures, somewhere

...of when it was still in ruins, but being worked on. Some of the capitals from the columns were still laying on the street around the church. I was staggered at how fucking HUGE they were. They required major skills to move today, so I can't imagine how they were moved when the church was originally built.

Looking forward to seeing it completed.

[Alcibiades]

3. More special treatment for the East

I mean, when will they ever get around to repairing the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin?

[Atlas Mugged]

4. You mean....

...the tube of lipstick and rouge box aren't enough for you?

[Alcibiades]

5. Both the "Lippenstift und Puderdose"

could probably fit comfortably in the Frauenkirche's nave. I realize they were on a budget back in the 60's, but those glass bricks--ugh, they look like something you'd see in a 1970's ranch house. Wenigstens in Dresden haben sie es richtig gemacht.

[Atlas Mugged]

6. Oh, they're hideous!!!

I bust out laughing the first time I saw that crap from a distance. Especially after a grand tour of so many other landmarks. Once inside I was making wisecracks about pink flamingoes and patio lights only to have another American couple bust out at the same time when they overheard me. We were being so reverential, at first, but I couldn't take it anymore.

When I'm in Berlin I stay on Fuggerstrasse, which is walking distance from there, so I see that eyesore all...the....time.

[Kellanved]

8. Why should they?

The Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche is a symbol for the German Imperialism - rightly in ruins.
Also, even it its prime it was considered an eyesore. It never had a status even remotely comparable to the Frauenkirche; the lipstick design actually is quite adequate.

[Alcibiades]

10. I know

I was being sarcastic about the rebuilding. It's probably better-looking the way it is. That being said, the Lippenstift and Puderdose really are dated and homely. Perhaps they could knock them down and replace them. God knows they haven't done enough construction in Berlin.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome Ost-Ampelmännchen!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[JVS]

9. Ruin-memorials left by capitalist govts. are ok, but...

ruin memorials left by communistgovts. are obviously just a result of inability to rebuild (even though the DDR managed to rebuild the rest of the city)

[nemo137]

11. the Bishop of Coventry is leading the first service there

isn't that a great symbol of reconciliation? The dean of a cathederal devastated by German bombers leading service at a church destroyed by Allied ones?