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Wittenberg Castle Church | December 26, 2023 | 4 p.m
Christmas concert for organ and trumpet (instead of Orthodox songs) on Boxing Day
The planned peace service with Orthodox Christmas songs on December 26th. at 4 p.m. in the castle church unfortunately has to be canceled due to illness. But castle church cantor Thomas Herzer cordially invites you to an alternative program with Christmas organ music and the sounds of trumpets. Klaus Vogelsang plays the trumpet. Works from the Baroque period to the present will be heard, including the shepherd's music from J.B. Bach's Christmas Oratorio and parts from the Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann. Entry is free, but a donation is requested at the exit.
The altar in the choir, which rises up to 12 m high, is made largely of soft French limestone due to its delicate shapes. This altar was designed by master builder Friedrich Adler. He was inspired by the Nuremberg Sebaldus tomb by Peter Vischer the Elder (completed in 1519) (according to Martin Steffens).
The Theses Door
According to tradition, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 theses in Latin on a poster on this door in order to debate them with scholars. The debate was intended to clarify whether the church's trade in "indulgences" corresponded to what Jesus once wanted. That was the beginning of the Reformation. The old wooden "Theses Door" was lost in the great fire of the church in 1760. In 1858, the Prussian King Frederick William IV donated the current bronze door, in the wings of which the Latin theses are cast.
Jubilee!
The castle church congregation celebrated its 75th anniversary on August 25, 2024 with a celebratory service followed by a reception.
History
Around 1340, the Ascanian dukes had an "All Saints' Chapel" built at their castle and founded a collegiate monastery in it for liturgical service. Elector Friedrich the Wise had the palace with the chapel demolished and his new residential palace with a more spacious palace church built on the site. You can find out more about the story here.
Church for children
Every Sunday there is a children's service in the Wittenberg Castle Church, parallel to the adult service. Ms. Felicia Grauel is one of the volunteers for the children's service.