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Events Calendar
Sunday | November 17th | 5:00 p.m. | Castle Church
Opening service for the 25th anniversary of the ELCA Wittenberg Center
Liturgy: Pastor Khader El-Yateem
Sermon: Pastor Bridget Gautieri
7 WEEKS WITHOUT: Millions of people get out of their rut every year with “7 Weeks Without”, the fasting campaign of the Protestant Church. They don’t (just) give up chocolate or nicotine, but follow the invitation to fast in their minds: for seven weeks, question the routine of everyday life, adopt a new perspective, discover what is important in life. For 40 years, “7 Weeks Without” has been inviting people to consciously experience and shape the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Join in! www.7wochenohne.evangelisch.de
Theses Door
According to tradition, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther proclaimed 95 theses in Latin on a poster at 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 intended. This 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, whose wings are encased in Latin theses.
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.