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Germany - Leipzig
St Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche) and
The Peaceful Revolution
in Germany
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St. Nicholas Curch -
cradle of the peaceful Revolution The Saint Nicholas church was founded in about
1165. It is the oldest and biggest one in Leipzig. Situated in the
very heart of the city and at the intersection of two important
historic trade roads, the Via Regia and the Via Imperii,
the church was dedicated to Nicholas, the medieval patron saint
of merchants and wholesalers. The church was originally built in
Romanesque architectural style, but in the early 16th century was
extended and redesigned into a Gothic hall church as we see it today.
The octagonal central tower was added in 1555 by Hieronymus Lotter.
A very special architectonical feature of the interior are the
palm capitals.
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Peaceful revolution at Leipzig,
October 9, 1989
The peaceful revolution
in Germany began in my hometown Leipzig, when the courageous parish
priest, Christian Fuehrer, opened up a dialogue at the St. Nicholas
Church with prayers for peace each Monday. They attracted large
crowds – so many, that in time the church with its 2,000 seats
could barely contain them.
From September 4, 1989 on the
peace prayers resulted in the so-called Monday Demonstrations, with
thousands of people holding candles, showing banners and shooting
paroles. The authorities tried to check the demonstrations by means
of road blocks and the presence of armed security forces in the
city. However, the number of protesters steadily grew.
The government
had given orders to shoot and the fear of an impending bloodbath
was great. Nonetheless on October 9, 1989, on the all-decisive demonstration,
about 70,000 demonstrators showed up in downtown Leipzig –
face to face with the 8,000 armed security forces deployed by the
state, shooting in mighty choruses “We are the people”
and “No violence” - an incredible and unforgettable
experience!
What transpired would go down in history as the “Miracle
of Leipzig.” Given the immense number of peaceful protesters,
security forces did not dare to shoot. The demonstrations ended
with a victory of the people over the authorities. Thus, the dam
had broken. Protests quickly swept through the whole of East Germany,
ultimately leading to the opening of the borders on November 9,
1989 and the fall of the communist regime.
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With Candles against weapons - The "Miracle
of Leipzig"
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Leipzig Monday Demonstration Oct. 89
Augustusplatz
(former Karl-Marx-Platz) |
military threat |
Leipzig Monday Demonstration Oct. 89
at the former Dimitroff museum |
Celebrating the Anniversary with a Festival of Lights
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Leipzig,
St. Nicholas Church,
memorial service
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Festival
of lights |
with candles
against weapons... |
Nikolaikirche Leipzig / St. Nicholas Church Leipzig
Spiegel Online "We are the people!.... "
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