{"id":24281,"date":"2023-08-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=24281"},"modified":"2023-08-02T10:01:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T08:01:29","slug":"st-marys-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/germany\/mecklenburg-western-pomerania\/rostock-warnemuende\/st-marys-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomical clock in St. Mary’s Church Rostock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Towering high above the surrounding buildings in Rostock’s old town is St. Mary’s Church. From the outside, the church looks massive and almost like a fortress, what would we expect inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In St. Mary’s Church there is the Astronomical Clock of Rostock, one of the sights of the city that should not be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church history information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Lutheran church is actually called St. Mary’s, but in the city it is only called St. Mary’s Church. It is first mentioned in a written record in 1232 as a parish church for an independent settlement with a market and a town hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Marienkirche<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

From 1262 there was the unification of some settlements in the region. The settlement around St. Mary’s Church formed the center and thus the church became the central council and main parish church of Rostock. It was soon noticed that the old church building was too small for the now larger congregation. Nor could the old building satisfy the need to represent the up-and-coming Hanseatic city of Rostock with an impressive main church.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

So it was decided to build a new church. Of the then early Gothic three-nave hall church made of brick, only the base floor (with final cloverleaf arch) and the gable wall on the west building are preserved today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A large three-nave basilica with a gallery was built. The construction work progressed very slowly. A collapse of the nave vault, which was very high at 31.5 m, problems with the building subsoil and the associated replanning led to repeated delays. In 1290, construction work began on the east side of the church and the craftsmen worked their way west. In the middle of the 14th century the old church was demolished, only the tower was left standing and extended. The construction of St. Mary’s Church was finally completed in the middle of the 15th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Reformation, the congregation adapted the interior to the look of the Protestant church interiors. There are said to have been about 40 altars in St. Mary’s Church, of which only St. Roch’s altar and a wing of St. Mary’s altar are preserved today. Later, the interior was whitewashed and thus the interior paintings disappeared. Today, after extensive restoration work, some of the paintings have been uncovered again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Marienkirche\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

In the Second World War, the church building suffered only “minor” damage in contrast to the old town of Rostock and could be provisionally repaired after the war. From 1992-2021, the building was renovated in such a way that today it is one of the most impressive churches in the city and a visit simply belongs in every city sightseeing program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tour around St. Mary’s Church<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We were on site a little before the church opened in the morning, so we first walked around the church and looked at it from the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Marienkirche<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The mighty red brick tower rises impressively above the nave. When I look up, I notice pointed arch windows that look bricked up. Only one opening, which looks quite small from below, is visible. Later I found out that these are sound holes for the bells behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nave and the transept were built with yellow brick and green glazed bricks. The eastern chapel crown, built later, is made of red brick. On one wall I discover a sundial, but on this cloudy day it did not tell me what time it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sonnenuhr\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I find the entrance area on the south front particularly beautiful. The gable of the shop front shows baroque figures of Christian virtue from the middle of the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Relief<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tour of the nave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the door of the church finally opened to visitors, our tour of the church could continue inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The size of St. Mary’s Church really becomes apparent in the nave. The transept is almost 73 meters long, the nave about 11 meters wide and a little over 31 meters high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hauptaltar\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that catches my eye is the high altar. The wooden high altar has two levels and was designed by several Berlin artists in 1720\/21. The painted main panel depicts the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Particularly beautiful are the sculpturally depicted figures in white and gold, which are distributed on the altar. The top of the altar is a large golden radiant cross with the eye of God resting in the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Kanzel<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Eingang<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Relatively far from the altar, on a pillar, is the pulpit of St. Mary’s Church. It is believed that this was placed there because of the poor acoustics in the church. The Renaissance pulpit is made of wood and dates from 1574. I particularly like the staircase closed by a beautiful door. The impressive sound cover was not made until 1723 and has been stylistically adapted to the pulpit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organ of the Marienkirche reaches up to the vault of the church. Right next to it is the prince’s box, which was designed in the rococo style. Above the box is a canopy with the coat of arms of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the initials of Christian Ludwig II. Directly next to it are two glazed balconies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I find striking are the former crypts, which are located in the side aisles and have been provided with display walls. These walls are made of wood and are richly detailed and elaborately designed. Some of the representations, such as the “Grim Reaper” or the skeleton, I find unusual for a church room, but I like them very much. Three tombs can be seen today in St. Mary’s Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gruft<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the tour, we were drawn to the real highlight of the church, which is located in the ambulatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Astronomical clock in St. Mary’s Church in Rostock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I think almost everyone has heard about the Astronomical Clock in Prague<\/a>, which we really found very impressive as well. I find the Astronomical Clock in Rostock very less impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Between two pillars behind the high altar stands the 11 meter high astronomical clock. This has a medieval movement from the year 1472 and still works.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Marienkirche<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

At first and admittedly also at second glance, the clock is more than confusing. Good that you can download an explanation with the help of a QR code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apostle Walk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At 12 o’clock you absolutely have to stand in front of the clock in St. Mary’s Church. Every day a chime sounds and the Apostles’ Walk in the upper part of the clock begins. Five apostles dressed in red pass by Christ and are blessed by him. The last apostle dressed in blue\/green remains without this blessing. This is Judas, to whom the door of heaven remains closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"YouTube\"

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>

Load video<\/a><\/p>