I have researched and created a three-month project proposal on which I intend to work in Marburg, Germany working simultaneously with the Architectural Institute and Ecclesiastical Art at the Philipps University Marburg. The relationship between the Reformation & Image is currently a theme that will come up during this Luther Decade 500 year celebration of freedom in Wittenberg. My focus will be to recognize Gutenberg, Cranach and Luther who were a part of this crucial period in time.
This past Sunday I got to experience some rich Turkish & Kurdish music! It was a going away party for a student studying Philosophy at the university of Marburg, who will be traveling back to Turkey. It was good food, but especially good MUSIC!!! Enjoy!
Anyone know this instrument?
My AWESOME apartment floor roomate to far left, Pelin, and her friends!=)
I tell you, joy was in the air while the German soccer team fought to get to the top.
Germany played some great soccer in this years World Cup 2010. It was sad that they lost to Spain, but at least they came in 2nd place. This is a just a special tribute to all the German fans of their beloved soccer team.
Mainz had a very home feeling atmosphere. I had a personal tourist guide by my great friends (Jonathan and Linda!!) from the area, plus a scheduled viewing of when Korea vs. Uruguay & USA vs. Ghana.
I got to see the "Dome" which is a huge historical Catholic church, plus seeing the famous Jewish artist, Marc Chagall, on contract did a stained glass project for a church, but passed away before he could see his finished work.
The Gutenberg Museum was very informative. I did not take many pictures because they were not allowed. But I did get one picture of a huge printing press that was located in entrance hallway. What I learned is that nobody knows what Gutenberg looked like, the sculptures and drawing are just representational.
For those who do not know, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press at a time where Martin Luther nailed the 95 These on the doors of church. There is also valid research that in the Asian countries, Korean and Japanese were really the original inventors.
I got to participate with a group of theological students in a preaching-slam, which happened to be their first undertaking.Went through a all-day workshop on Friday and Saturday till the 8pm that night when it was time for performing. There was a great turn out. The goal of the slam was to take a story in the Bible, a verse and tell it in poetic, prose, metaphorically way; but making it relevant to the unchurched person. I chose Song of Solomon and used a repeated refrain in my dialogue poem between the man/God and woman. Text upon request!
Here is a clip of the preaching-slam by one of the students from the school. Her name is Sara.
This town felt warm and welcoming as I got off the train, taking a quick walkabout the town before checking into my hotel. Eisenach is not as flat as Wittenberg, but not as hilly as Marburg, so the in between does exist!=) The main attractions in Eisenach are: The Wartburg Castle, Johann Sebastian Bach and the Luther House, which is much smaller in comparison to the one in Wittenberg but it did have tons of written, visual and audio understandings of the time period, Luther’s theology and supporters’ of the Reformation.
St. Nikolai Kirche
My first visit was actually not my sights for visiting, it was a historical church (evangelical church) that is now more modern in liturgy and worship. The church is called St. Nikolai. It was built in Thüringen during the Romantic period in 1180. This church was the half waypoint of the Benedictines Cloister, one of the oldest and meaningful cloisters’ out of the 7 well-known in Eisenach.
St. Nikolai has well sized pipe organ and mix of old and modern artwork still visible. The particular artwork that gets’ the prominence is the Altar piece. It was created in 16 hundreds, the author is unknown, in a small town carpentry shop outside of Eisenach. The theme of the art piece is centered on the burial of Christ (which is centered in the middle). On the left side is Bishop Nikolaus (erected around 350 ad.) and the right side shows Jacob the apostle.
While visiting there, I got to know the sexton of the church. She gave me the brief history of the church and the recent visitation of Pastor Schneider, from the EKD, who came and spoke and had to unfortunately let-go a pastor because of financial circumstances. This topic seemed to really affect the sexton. The sexton feels that cuts because of financial circumstances should start from the top and not the bottom; to not stop the ministry that interacts with the people directly because they are more important than someone maintaining status up top. The problem in the east side of Germany is that there is no money there for the church to exist or do ministry because it is and was such a more secular area than on the west side when the wall was erected. A student told me that there many young pastors ready for ministry but not enough money for them to live and serve the church as it should.
Die Wartburg
As you can see from my pictures below how high, long and tiring the walk was up the hill to the Wartburg Castle; but once I got up there, boy, I was happy and definitely took my time browsing the place. I met an older couple on the way and we encouraged one another; and because of that victory the husband took my camera from me and made sure I had a picture with myself in it.
I got to see where Jünker Jorg/Martin Luther worked and the splash of ink on the wall they claim is from him. There was a lot of history about St. Elisabeth who had some dwellings there that took up most of what the tour guide shared.
The Bach Haus
I briefly visited just because this man was beyond his time just like Luther, but with music. Sat in on a presentation of various pianos/harpsichord of Bach’s day. Bach’s many children and wives which he loved. The tragedy of his first wife was when he went away for work, he came back and his wife, unknown for what reason, died.
The Bach’s house also had a level where you can hear the many musicals of his day, not just by him, but by other famous composers as well. There was also modern day orchestra, opera, ensemble music, or the new Bachs’ of today available to hear and purchase. There was a statement that Bach’s music tended to reflect some of Luther’s sermons because he loved them so much.
Painting update!
I have the outward panel almost done (some finishing touches), now working on the inside panel!
Here is the main view from the back of the church looking forward. There sculptures on the left and right. There are very High chandeliers, ceilings and colorful stained glass windows way in the background and hidden ones on the sides in this photo.
Here are two memorial paintings of Martin Luther and Philipp Melancthon whom are buried here in this church. As you can see they look a little older, getting up in years I think. These paintings you will find on the right hand side of the church wall before the church pews start to end.
Here are the burial sites of both Reformers. The body can be found below deep in the ground under these representational sites.
These are statues representing from the left: St. Peter, Jesus and St. Paul.
I just liked how this pulpit in comparison to the one at Wartburg seminary wraps around and has a covering above. I wonder what symbolic meaning that has instead of thinking, I hope that will never get loose!=) The preaching seminary in Wittenberg says they use that podium when students practice preaching. All I can say is… INTIMIDATING!
The 95 Theses are still in Latin
but are printed out of bronze
because the original
one was made out of wood
and got badly burned somehow.
Okay we have Sites, now we need Sounds!
I am not sure if there are any Organ lovers out there but here is your moment!
I believe this is in the ranking of one of the largest organs’ in the world. Also a little short history note…in the past organs originated in circuses from Rome and at first it was forbidden to own or have an organ in the church. Like guitars and keyboards are not fully accepted yet today in certain organized religions. I also have a short clip for those doubters about that!=)
Here the loud Organ Roar! (soon)
Proof of past Organ Treatment! (soon)
One of Martin Luther's rooms (soon)
This is the end of the Schloß Kirche.
Lucas Cranach the Elder slide show com’in right up!
Here are pictures from Cranach’s Hof! One of Cranach’s Printing shops is located here with a stature of himself no less! For those who are into printing presses, graphic design, metals etc this is your moment.
Printing Shop!
Food for Thought!
Okay the Presses!
Now the Stadtkirche!
Cranach the Elder and the Junger’s Altar Piece is inside!
Overall my trip was great! There are whole lot more picture and other sites not mentioned such as Luther Haus. However it was a great experience and it intrigued me that there two person who looked Buddhist, they had a bright orange cloth as clothing wrapped around them, who were enjoying the city and the Luther Decade is going on. I thought that was very symbolic and exciting that Wittenberg streets are filled with Ecumenical and Interfaith possibilities and realities.
Painting still in progress, stay tuned. The next post will be about Eisenach, you guessed Wartburg Castle! (And a little bit of Bach too!)
