Sunday

St Nikolai church in Berlin

I love old buildings and there are plenty of those in Berlin!  So, one cold Saturday I went to the oldest church in Berlin, St Nikolai church.  The church was built between 1220 and 1230.  Unfortunately due to bombing in the second world war, large parts of the church had to be reconstructed in the 1980s.  Yes, it took the GDR more than 30 years to even start the reconstruction!  The church is not in use as a church any more but is a well organised museum.  You have to pay for everything though - entry fee, audio guide and you have to pay 2euro to take pictures.  And so I payed and here are some of the 100s of pics I took.

An oak statue of St Nicolas 

The church is filled with tombs payed for by rich families.  They are beautifully decorated . 

This painting of a pious family shows the church as it was used in the background.  

These windows were damaged by bombing

An example of damage done by bombing. 
One can sit on the galery, put on headphones and listen to choral music. 
View of the church while listening to the music.  Stunning.
More ceiling and pillar detail. 


People who bought space for tombs in the church also commissioned the most beautiful ornate scroll work.  I've taken a few pictures of these railings. 
A pillar
Window

The altar piece is spectacular










I totally loved this altar cloth
One of the little scenes on the altar cloth.  This picture is taken from the computerised display. 

This is a picture of the actual altar cloth. 

Here is the real chasuble dating back from the late 1400s.  Amazing. 





You can sit and watch a a presentation on the history of the church and area.  Your audio device automatically syncronises with the looping presentation.  
How the church looked in previous centuries


View of this huge church from the back

3 comments:

  1. I love these amazing photographs! The statues and art is so full of richness and a heaviness of years hey. I just can't get over the expressions on the faces of some of the statues. Imagine carving that and also imagine the time that went into the religious art in general. Religion really dominated life.

    I'm glad you have so much to feast your eyes on my friend! Especially enjoyed your photo of the ceiling while listening to the choral music.. x

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    Replies
    1. Yes! Centuries of worship, ritual, scheming, guilt, greed, grief with a mix of war damage...amazing ambiance as you can imagine. Loved it and wish you could be here too!

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  2. Berlin is such a rich in the eyes place.. we can see there own unique treasures they loved for years.. its amazing to see it for real..

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