Berlin has a diversity of religions sights - Christian, Jewish. Among the most acclaimed ones are the places of worship set to commemorate certain religious events or people. Take this tour to discover the most famous and magnificent religious heritage of Berlin.
1) St. Marien Kirche
The St. Mary’s Church or Marien Kirche is the second oldest church in Berlin. It is the seat of the Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg- Silesian Upper Lusatia.
The St. Mary’s Church is a medieval structure dating back to the 13th century and is mentioned in chronicles written in 1292. It was first a Roman Catholic Church and the influences of the Dominicans and Franciscans can be seen in the older granite parts of the building. After the protestant revolution the church served the protestant population of Berlin from 1824. Since then, the church has been expanded and converted into an elaborate brick structure.
The St. Mary’s Church has a tower that dates back to the 15th century. A notable feature is a fresco called the Dance of Death located in the vestibule. It was painted after the Great Plague and depicts all sections of society dancing with death. Death is not portrayed as a destroyer but a messenger of God summoning the suffering to heaven. A statue of Martin Luther stands besides the building and among those buried in the church is Carl Hilderbrand Freherr von Canstein, the founder of the first Bible Society in the world, the Cansteinche Biblelanstalt.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Manfred Brückels
2) Berlin Cathedral
Berlin Cathedral (German: Berliner Dom) is the colloquial name for the Evangelical Oberpfarr- und Domkirche (English analogously: Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church, literally Supreme Parish and Cathedral Church) in Berlin, Germany. It is the parish church of the Evangelical congregation Gemeinde der Oberpfarr- und Domkirche zu Berlin, a member of the umbrella organisation Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia. Its present building is located on Museum Island in the Mitte borough. The Berlin Cathedral had never been a cathedral in the actual sense of that term, since Berlin, let alone this Cathedral, had never been the seat of a Catholic bishop. When in 1930 the Holy See for the first time established a Catholic diocese of Berlin, the Berlin Cathedral had long been a Protestant church. St. Hedwig's Cathedral serves as seat of Berlin's Metropolitan bishop.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Daniel Schwen
Sight description based on wikipedia
3) St. Hedwig Cathedral
St. Hedwig's Cathedral (German: Sankt-Hedwigs-Kathedrale) is a Roman Catholic cathedral on the Bebelplatz in Berlin, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Berlin, Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky. It was built in the 18th century as the first Catholic church in Prussia after the Protestant Reformation by permission of King Frederick II. The intention of Frederick was to offer the numerous Catholic immigrants that had arrived in Berlin, especially those from Upper Silesia, a place of worship. The church was therefore dedicated to the patron of Silesia and Brandenburg, Saint Hedwig of Andechs. The building was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff modeled after the Pantheon in Rome and construction started in 1747, interrupted and delayed several times due to economy measures. It was not until November 1, 1773 when the king's friend, Ignacy Krasicki, then Bishop of Warmia (later Archbishop of Gniezno), officiated at the cathedral's opening in 1773.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
4) French Friedrichstad Church (French Dom)
Französischer Dom (German for: French Cathedral) is the colloquial naming for the French Church of Friedrichstadt (French: Temple de la Friedrichstadt, German: Französische Friedrichstadtkirche) located in Berlin on the Gendarmenmarkt across from the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), formerly a church of German-speaking congregants. Louis Cayart and Abraham Quesnay built the first parts of the actual French Church from 1701 to 1705 for the Huguenot (Calvinist) community. At that time, Huguenots made up about 25% of Berlin's population. The French Church was modelled after the destroyed Huguenot temple in Charenton-Saint-Maurice, France. The church is not a cathedral in the strict sense of the word because it has never been the seat of a bishop. The domed tower, which is a viewing platform open to visitors, provides a panoramic view of Berlin. A restaurant is located in the basement underneath the prayer hall. The tower also contains the Huguenot museum of Berlin.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
5) St. Matthäus Church
The St. Matthäus Church or St. Mathews Church is a picturesque 19th century church located in the centre of Berlin. It is the only historical building that was completely restored after being damaged in World War II.
The St Matthaus Church was built between 1844 and 1846. The red brick structure was designed by architects, Freidrich August Stuler and Herbert Wentzel in Italian Renaissance style. It suffered extensive damage during the Berlin bombings during World War II but was restored in 1957.
The St Matthaus Church is a protestant church and many famous personalities in Germany have formed part of the congregation. It has a well known musical tradition and pianist Franz List not only played here often but gave his last performance before his death in 1886. His portrait finds a place among the many works of art inside the church. Other notable works in the interior are the Head of Christ by Gerhard Marst and a crucifix by Gerhard Schrieter. There are also works by modern religious artists like Sigmund Hahn, Michael Morgner and Vadim Sidur. The story of how God created the world and brought St. Matthaus Church to Berlin is portrayed in the 50 stained glass windows of the church.
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6) Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church is a Protestant church in Berlin-Spandau. It was constructed in 1895-1896 to the design of Arnold Eugene Fritsche. The red brick building represents a transition from Romanesque to Gothic styles and features elements of Romanesque and Gothic Revival. The tower is asymmetrically placed in front of an aisle and covered with a short tip. On Sundays, American Church in Berlin holds services in Lutheran Church.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Beek100
Sight description based on wikipedia
7) St. Matthias Church
St. Matthias Church was established at the end of the 19th century by Matthias Aulike. One of the focal points of this church is the liturgy that attracts people through service and meditation.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Bellomonte