Beginnings of Christendom in Central Europe

2024 By justmovingaround in History, Sacred Grounds Tags: Christianity, Cyril and Methodius, Czechia, Olomouc, St. Wenceslas

Collecting the puzzles on European history, before displaying the gallery of photos from the Olomouc Cathedral, in this post, I will focus on the origins of Christendom in Central Europe influenced by three historical figures whose statues we may seen on the Olomouc Cathedral facade, complementing my earlier texts on European history before and during the early Medieval Ages.

Key figures for indroducting Christendom in Central Europe. At the top St. Wenceslas and below Sts. Methodius (in his later years a bishop) and his brother Cyril on the facade of St. Wenceslas cathedral of Olomouc.

Great Moravia. Byzantine influence. Cyril and Methodius

The first major Slavic state in Central Europe was Great Moravia, called also the Great Moravian Empire. The exact boundaries of its territory are not clearly defined, but in the 9th century it likely encompassed parts of what are now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Poland, and Germany. Initially under the dominance of East Francia, which emerged after the split of the Carolingian Empire, Great Moravia eventually shed this influence. Seeking to strengthen his realm, Moravian Prince Rastislav requested Christian teachers from the Pope. After this request was declined, he turned to Byzantine Emperor Michael III.

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The response was the arrival of the Byzantine missionaries, Greek brothers, Cyril and Methodius in Moravia in 863. Cyril and Methodius translated significant portions of the Christian scriptures and liturgical texts into Old Church Slavonic (a precursor to many Slavic languages). This new language was based on the Southern Slavic dialect spoken in the Thessalonica region, which was familiar to them. It incorporated features from several Slavic dialects to be more universally understood among different Slavic tribes. To facilitate the translation of the Bible and liturgical texts into the Slavic language, Cyril created the Glagolitic alphabet, the first known Slavic script. The appearance of the new language led to conflicts with German ecclesiastical authorities, who opposed the use of Slavic languages in liturgical services, insisting on Latin. The brothers traveled to Rome to seek approval for their Slavic liturgy. Pope Adrian II gave his approval, recognizing the Slavic liturgy and ordaining Slavic clergy.

Iterestingly, the Cyrillic script, developed later from the Glagolitic alphabet possibly by Cyril’s students, based on the Greek alphabet with additional letters to represent unique Slavic sounds, is named in honor of Cyril and is used in many Slavic and non-Slavic languages today.

statue of Ciril on the Olomouc Cathedral facade, Czechia

statue of Methodius on the Olomouc Cathedral facade, Czechia

Cyril and Methodius

By the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century, Roman Christianity had gained a stronger foothold in Moravia. The Great Moravian Empire eventually declined and fell, and the region became part of the spheres of influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, both aligned with the Roman Catholic Church.

Bohemia. Latin influence. Wenceslas I

Meanwhile, in the western part of present-day Czech Republic, Bohemia, the Christian faith was taking root through different channels influenced by the Western (Latin) Christendom. In the strive to establish his rule, Duke Bořivoj of Bohemia, the first historically documented ruler of Bohemia, was baptized into the Latin rite between 874 and 883 AD. His conversion, alongside that of his wife Ludmila (later venerated as Saint Ludmila), marked a significant step in the religious development of the Czech lands. Their son, Vratislaus I, continued their Christian legacy, which was further advanced by his son, Wenceslas I (later Saint Wenceslas), who was the Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his assassination in 935. Raised by his grandmother Ludmila after his father’s death, Wenceslas was a devout Christian who promoted the building of churches and was widely regarded as a benevolent leader. He was assassinated in 935 at the age of 28 by nobles allied with his younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel, due to political and religious disputes, including differing views on the influence of Christianity in the region. Wenceslas’ martyrdom led to his canonization and he is now revered as the patron saint of the Czech state.

statue of Wenceslas I on the Olomouc Cathedral facade, Czechia

Wenceslas I (later Saint Wenceslas)

Wenceslas’ death allowed Boleslaus to become the ruler of Bohemia, where he continued to expand its territory and influence, as well as the Christianization efforts. While, Wenceslas was traditionally portrayed as a devout Christian, Boleslaus’s approach to Christianity appeared to have been more pragmatic and politically motivated. He used Christianity as a tool for political consolidation and territorial expansion.

A notable alliance formed by Boleslaus the Cruel was with Mieszko I of Poland around 965 AD. Mieszko’s marriage to Boleslaus’s daughter, Dobrawa, was a strategic union between Bohemia and Poland. Dobrawa significantly influenced Mieszko I’s conversion to Christianity, leading to his baptism in 966 AD, an event known as the Baptism of Poland. Christianity’s spread northward was later furthered by the Kingdom of Poland, intersecting with the independent efforts of the Northern Crusades led by Germanic nobles and the Teutonic Knights, whose aim was also to widespread Christendom in Central Europe, and around the Baltics.

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Beginnings of Christendom in Central Europe

Unexpected. The Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd

2024 By justmovingaround in Sacred Grounds, Travel Notes Tags: architecture, Catholic, church, Gietrzwałd, Gothic, Masuria, Neo-Gothic, Poland 1 Comment

Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd wasn’t my idea — my brother suggested we stop there on our way to Olsztyn. I didn’t expect much, but it turned out to be one of the most significant Marian sanctuaries in Poland — and, that day, almost entirely deserted. From the outside, it looked like many others. But the interior was a surprise: carefully restored, rich in detail, and unexpectedly grand.

When travelling I like to be suprised. It usually happens when I fully rely on the opinion of somebody who already had been at a place or made thorough reserch in the internet. Sometimes it is just someone’s recommendation. Traveling with my brother, I usually drive, guided only by his directions and a quick glance at the map for distance and time. On this trip, I didn’t even know our destination’s name, only that it was famed for being one of the Masuria most beautiful churches. And the Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd indeed turned to be outstanding. We arrived there on a quiet September afternoon. The church’s interior was barely lit. But when I started to do photos, and close ups I was getting to realise the details. Below a few photos just giving the glimpse of the interior. They are enhanced by adding to it more light. But they indeed reflect that what we have seen there.

Our Lady of Gietrzwałd Sanctuary | ギェツヴァウドの聖母聖地 | 吉特日瓦乌德圣母圣地 | 기에트슈바우트 성모 성지 | Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Gietrzwałd | Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Gietrzwałd | Heiligtum Unserer Lieben Frau von Gietrzwałd | Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Gietrzwałdzkiej

sacred grounds, sanctuary of Gietrzwałd, poland

The Sanctuary of Gietrzwałd, located in northern Poland, is a notable site of Roman Catholic pilgrimage. It gained prominence due to the reported Marian apparitions in 1877. Its history dates back to times of the Teutonic Order, when in a small village a chapel was built. Gietrzwałd was at that time under the administrative authority of the Warmian Bishops, who were members of the Teutonic Order but had a certain degree of autonomy. The chapel and the village were distoyed during the Polish-Teutonic War. Later by the end of the XVth century, a single-nave Gothic church was built on a stone foundation. With time the interior was adapted to the Renaissance style. During the Baroque period, the church was equipped with new altars. The church took its current form immediately after the apparitions, under the direction of Arnold Güldenpfennig, a German architect specialized in Revival Gothic. His designs were characterized by their adherence to Gothic architectural principles, yet they often incorporated modern construction techniques and materials. He enlarged the church to create a harmonious blend of the Gothic and new Neo-Gothic parts, without disturbing the Gothic section. A transept with galleries and a presbytery with a crypt were added, giving the church the shape of a Roman cross.

Sometimes the most peaceful places appear when you expect the least.

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Berlin Cathedral

2024 By justmovingaround in BERLIN, Sacred Grounds Tags: architecture, Berlin, Berliner Dom, cathedral, Germany, Protestant

Berlin Cathedral is a Protestant church. And yet, about a minute after stepping inside, the surprise begins. Because nothing looks quite the way I expected. There’s no Gothic gloom, no austere Protestant simplicity. Instead, there’s gold, marble, opera-like organs, and royal sarcophagi. The Berlin Cathedral – formally Protestant – seems designed to impress. And it does, though in a way that defies all assumptions.

The Berlin Cathedral (in German: Berliner Dom) is a prominent Protestant church and the largest church in Berlin. It is located on Museum Island in the Mitte borough of Berlin. Its construction began in 1894 under the architect Julius Carl Raschdorff. It was built on the site of a previous Baroque-style cathedral that had been demolished. The Cathedral was completed in 1905.

I have already seen countless cathedrals, basilicas, or churches in Europe. But upon entering this one, I was impressed by its perfect design and imperial look. It holds your eyes with impressive Baroque and Renaissance architecture, but it is not overdosed like many Baroque churches. You see gold, but not too much. It is adorned with beautiful mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass windows. Under closer scrutiny, you see the symmetry of the interior design that conveys a sense of order and authority.

The Berlin Cathedral on approach from its front and back, and the first look onto its interior and the dome.

The idea of constructing a cathedral in Berlin gained momentum in the late 19th century. It was the time when the German Empire that emerged upon the Kingdom of Prussia, led by Kaiser Wilhelm II, sought to assert its influence and compete with other European powers. The German Empire was officially proclaimed on January 18, 1871, in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. The German Empire was a federal state with a constitutional monarchy. The monarch, initially Kaiser Wilhelm I, only briefly his son Frederick III, and later his grandson Kaiser Wilhelm II. It collapsed after World War I in November 1918. The war resulted in significant economic strain, social unrest, and military defeat. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. The Weimar Republic was established.

The look onto the altar, the back and the organs which are located on your left hand side as you look onto the altar. Beneath the latter you can see sarcophages of the Prussian royalty.

Three pictures over the main altar

The pulpit

The Cathedral became the main church for the Protestant Church of the Prussian Union. The Prussian Union was a historical Protestant church union that emerged in the Kingdom of Prussia, the predecessor of the German Empire in the early 19th century. The primary aim was to create a unified Protestant church structure that could bridge the theological and liturgical differences between Lutherans and Reformed Protestants. It was initiated by King Frederick William III of Prussia through a royal edict on September 27, 1817. At this time, Prussia was a significant German state with a diverse population practicing various forms of Protestantism, including Lutheran and Reformed (Calvinist) traditions.

The Berlin Cathedral suffered significant damage during World War II due to Allied bombings. The dome and much of the interior were severely affected. In the post-war years, the East German government took charge of the cathedral. As in all countries under Soviet influence, there was an overall trend of secularization. While the state allowed for the existence of churches, they were subject to state control and scrutiny. The interior was initially used for secular purposes. But later in the seventies extensive restoration efforts were undertaken, and the cathedral was reopened to the public in 1993 after substantial reconstruction.

Details of the Berliner Dom opulent interior.

There are various members of the Kingdom of Prussia burried beneath the Cathedral in the Hohenzollern Crypt – Frederick William I, the King of Prussia, and his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover; Wilhelm I, the first German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia; Empress Augusta Victoria, wife of Wilhelm II (the last German Emperor), and others. Besides in the dome we can admire the so called canotaphs erected as symbolic memorials to individuals whose remains are located elsewhere – Frederick III, the German Emperor and King of Prussia for a very brief period in 1888. The sarcophages are made from luxurious materials such as precious metals, marble, or other valuable materials. They are adorned with intricate carvings, engravings, and decorative elements that symbolize the deceased person’s position. The cathedral also contains various memorials and plaques dedicated to individuals, including military personnel and clergy, who played significant roles in German history.

Opulent canotaphs inside the cathedral. It is difficult to make photos of them as they are placed behind massive bars.

The Berlin Cathedral’s dome is accessible to visitors willing to get to the roof. As I can recall it there was no lift inside, so I had to climb it using narrow stairs. The dome offers panoramic views of Berlin.

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