Detailaufnahme der Türme der Stadtkirche

History of the town church

The mother church of the Reformation

The town church of St. Mary was built between 1281 and 1283, making it the oldest building in the town, but it was Martin Luther and Johannes Bugenhagen, who both preached in the church during the Reformation, that made the church most famous. Today you can see Martin Luther's original pulpit on loan in the Luther House. Experience a touch of history within the historic walls of the town church, which in 1521 was the setting for the first Holy Mass to be held in German and the first communion with bread and wine. A short time later, in 1525, the church was also the venue for the wedding of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora, which is still celebrated every year with a large town festival .

Kircheninneres mit Cranachaltar
©Wittenberg Kultur e.V.

The nave

Discover works of art from the Reformation

Let yourself be captivated by the historic walls of Wittenberg's town church. Inside the church you will find, among other things, the impressive Reformation altar by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Lucas Cranach the Younger. On the front you will find a detailed painting of the Last Supper with Martin Luther as one of the disciples. Philipp Melanchthon and Johannes Bugenhagen have also been immortalized on the altar. You will also find an elaborately decorated baptismal font by Hermann Vischer, the oldest exhibit in the church.

Gedenkplatte zum Mahnmal "Die Judensau"
©Wittenberg Kultur e.V.

Memorial "The Jewish sow"

On the south-eastern outer wall of the church is a completely different piece of history. The pictorial representation of the Jewish sow, which was common in the High Middle Ages, is today intended as a memorial against anti-Semitism. At the time of its creation, such "paintings" often adorned churches and were intended to mock Jews. In 1988, the parish installed a memorial plaque beneath the "Judensau" to commemorate the historical consequences of Jew-hatred.

Wittenberger Kanzelreden

Die Wittenberger Kanzelreden schließen an die Tradition der Stadtkirche an, ein besonderer Predigtort zu sein. Seit vielen Jahren werden namhafte Persönlichkeiten aus Kirche und Gesellschaft, aus Kunst und Kultur, aus Wissenschaft und Politik eingeladen, um Worte ins Spiel zu bringen und Gedanken zu äußern, die anstoßen, querdenken, verändern. Die Kanzelreden in Martin Luthers Predigtkirche wollen anregen und aufregen. Im Anschluss an die Kanzelreden in der Stadtkirche bietet sich die Gelegenheit, mit der jeweiligen Kanzelrednerin bzw. mit dem jeweiligen Kanzelredner ins Gespräch zu kommen. In ungezwungener Atmosphäre können Fragen und Gedankenanstöße aufgegriffen und angesprochen werden.

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