Living proof that peace is possible

      The Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany is a very special place for me. I visited it for the first time in the week after 9/11. Reconstruction was in full swing, and all along the fence guarding the perimeter of the building site there were flowers and candles and notes expressing sorrow for the victims and hope for a world without war. The whole cathedral was shrouded in scaffolding, totally obscuring its shape.

The only part that was done at that time was the crypt, which I visited. At that time, I decided I wanted to come back to see it when the reconstruction was done.
 

In September of 2006 I came back. What a transformation!
 

I researched a bit of the history, and here it is, along with photos taken by me on site. 

The original baroque cathedral was built between 1726 and 1743. It was a Lutheran cathedral, even though the ruling Prince of Saxony at that time was a Catholic.

This is what it looked like originally.
 (photograph of a poster on-site) 

On February 13, 1945 Anglo-American forces began the bombardment of Dresden. The cathedral survived for two days and nights, serving as a sanctuary for some 300 people for a while before it finally succumbed to the incendiary bombs. The dome collapsed on February 15^th, after the temperature in the interior reached some 1200°C. Nearly 6000 tons of stones collapsed to the ground.

For many years the ruins were left as a memorial against war.
(photograph of a poster on-site) 

After German reunification in 1989, the citizens of Dresden began thinking about rebuilding their famous landmark. In 1990 the German “Society to Promote the Reconstruction of the Frauenkirche” was founded, along with the “Dresden Trust” in Great Britain, the “Friends of Dresden, Inc” in the United States, and similar societies in many other countries. Together with large donations from some individuals and corporations, these associations collected more than two-thirds of the $217 million needed. It can truly be said that people from all over the world helped to rebuild this cathedral.

 Reconstruction began in 1996 and was finished by 2005, one year earlier than planned.

On October 30, 2005 the Frauenkirche was rededicated.

Stairs leading down

 A side room

A look into another side room

Baptismal font
 

The "Unterkirche"

More than 3800 of the original sandstone blocks were reused. They were placed, as closely as possible, in their original place and position. Since these stones were blackened by the fire (and age) they are clearly visible. Their presence is a testament to the possibility of overcoming the scourge of war and the hate that causes it.

One of the special parts of the story of reconstruction is that the gilded orb and cross on the dome were crafted by a goldsmith from London (Alan Smith) whose father was a member of one of the aircrews that took part in the bombing…

I don't have a usable photograph of this myself - if you would like to see it, check it out here. It is beautiful!
  stipvisiten.de/reisen/dresden/frauenkirche05.htm  

Gallery

My photographs do not do justice to the luminous quality if the paintings. We are used to the interior of cathedrals whose paintings have dimmed with age (and the burning of many candles...). Originally they were meant to be bright and colorful!
 

 Another gallery. Note the way the sandstone is painted to look like marble. This was quite common at the time many of the great cathedrals were constructed.

The organ.

  View up into the dome.

World War two was a terrible war. It was in a sense the culmination of centuries of enmity between the various peoples of Europe. Others were drawn into it, and it brought untold suffering to humankind.

The reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden is a beacon of hope for all those who want to believe peace is possible, no matter where, no matter why, no matter with whom. It took time, but what a glorious achievement!