I have been wanting to visit this church for a long time now. And on our way home from Berlin I could finally experience the fulfillment of this dream. We stop at Dresden. It is a city which was destroyed extensively in the second World War. The Friedenskirche (Peace Church), previously in East Germany and a beacon of Dresden in pre-war Germany, was almost completely destroyed, but then restored after 13 years of rebuilding at a cost of 180, 000, 000 Euro's. Many people and institutions helped with donations - amongst others a Nobel Price Winner who donated his prize. It was finally rededicated in 2005.

The building which survived many wars, finally collapsed after 650,000 fire bombs were thrown on the city and the heat made the structure implode.

The communists wanted to convert it in a parking garage, but the locals resisted. The church played a huge role in the peace movement in East Germany which finally lead to the collapse of the Communist state.

It is today one of the best known churches in Germany. Pres. Obama visited earlier this year. Many tourist, actually droves of them, visit. The church has become a symbol in more ways than one and speaks of new life which can be born from war and destruction.

We begin our visit with high expectations. Dresden is not Berlin, and yet, one sees signs of new life and hope in many unexpected place - like the panel above a door of a shop near the church:




A big statue of Luther stands next to the church. It is a young, powerful Luther:




It is disturbing to see how the church was destroyed. Here is a picture:





Here is the restored church:





This is the liturgical space (with many tourists)...





Another part of the liturgical space:




The church is painted with pastel colours. It creates a feeling of space, lightness:




Having visited many cathedrals during our stay, it struck me suddenly that the pulpit is in the centre of the church, which indicated its protestant character:





Another part of the liturgical space:




In the big cellar of the church there is an exhibition of memorial stones which were discovered amongs the ruins. There are beautiful comments in the room about their witness to saints of previous generations, but also to the continuing hope on the resurrection.

This picture of praying woman struck me. I went back to take a picture of the praying hands. It has a mystical effect.





There is in the cellar with its chapel also an altar stone by the British sculpture, Arish Kapoor. The hole in the middle symbolizes the deeper dimension of our life which is lost in our superficial existence.





On our way back, sadly, we walked pass this person with his red flag. He has not found freedom....




This was a special visit which affected me more than I expected. I realised once again how destructive war can be. In this case it took away from the community in Dresden a precious symbol. To see how thousands of them over many years worked to get it rebuilt, is both touching and sad.

It was a special visit.