History All Saints' Church, Wittenberg

1 history

1.1 foundation
1.2 theses doors
1.3 renovation

history

a first chapel dedicated saints erected @ new residence of ascanian duke rudolf of saxe-wittenberg 1340. consecrated on 6 may 1346, rudolf subordinated foundation immediate jurisdiction of holy see. further donations made successor duke rudolf ii, determined wittenberg main church pope boniface ix in 1400.

foundation

wittenberg castle church, after woodcut lucas cranach elder (1509)

when in late 15th century wettin prince frederick iii wise, elector of saxony 1486, had former ascanian fortress rebuilt, new saints church designed architect conrad pflüger (c. 1450 – 1506/07) , erected between 1490 , 1511 in late gothic style. consecrated on 17 january 1503, became part of frederick s electoral castle or residenzschloss, called schloss wittenberg (de). extensive furnishings tilman riemenschneider, jacopo de barbari, , albrecht dürer contributed construction of castle complex , church.

after in 1502 elector frederick iii founded university of wittenberg (leucorea) , received confirmation papal legate raymond peraudi in 1507, saints incorporated serve chapel university , evolved important academic , worship center. students awarded doctorates there, , reformator philipp melanchthon made famous inaugural speech @ church. tradition of burying academic dignitaries of university @ church developed. several notable epitaphs preserved today.

theses doors

theses doors , commemorating luthers 95 theses

the main portal used university staff pin messages , notices; believed on 31 october 1517, eve of saints day, martin luther posted ninety-five theses on doors of saints church. act, meant promote disputation on sale of indulgences, commonly viewed catalyst protestant reformation. whether event took place or not, however, cannot conclusively established. nevertheless, luther sent objections in letter archbishop albert of mainz on same day.

frederick wise died in 1525 , buried in castle church. in same year, lutheran rite implemented. church became burial site of martin luther himself in 1546, , of philipp melanchthon in 1560.

when during 7 years war wittenberg fortress occupied prussian army , shelled imperial forces in 1760, castle church destroyed fire resulting bombardment. blaze left half of foundation standing, , none of wooden portals survived. saints rebuilt, albeit without many priceless works of art lost forever.

after wittenberg incorporated prussian province of saxony, king frederick william iv, in 1858, ordered commemorative bronze doors mounted onto jambs original wooden ones had been located. on doors theses inscribed in original latin form. doors weigh 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg). ornaments modelled friedrich drake. on 10 november 1858, 375 years after martin luther s birth, new doors commemorated @ formal ceremony. above doors tympanum crucifixion painting portrays luther on left german bible translation, , philipp melanchthon on right, 1530 augsburg confession, main confession of faith in lutheran church formed luther , melanchthon. these doors among photographed in europe.

renovation

ein feste burg ist unser gott, inscription on church tower

on occasion of fourth centenary of luther s birth in 1883, extensive restoration of saints in neo-gothic style begun under supervision of prussian architect friedrich adler disciple paul ferdinand groth (1859-1955). interior redesign included present rib vault ceiling , pilasters, matronea , apse. also, 88-metre (289 ft)-tall steeple rebuilt, 1 can obtain view of city of wittenberg , surrounding countryside. quote, ein feste burg ist unser gott ( mighty fortress our god ), 1 of luther s hymns, encircles tower.

on 31 october 1892, 375 years after luther posted 95 theses on doors of church, saints re-inaugurated.