St. MichaelisKirche

For the turist of today, this church could be only a well-placed monument or another temple with a high tower, designed with elegant lines, from which is possible to apreciate the Harbour and the complete city (Photo). Michaeliskirche is a Main Church (Hauptkirche) for Hamburg, maybe the most important one.

"Du sollst keine andere Götter
neben mir haben"
(2.Mose 20,3)

The city of Hamburg -placed in north Europe- is well know to have a population who does not put active interest to any faith-tendency (Glaube), and this is reinforced with the liberal lifestyle in the everyday issues, which makes a strong contrast with others cities in that country. More or less the 55% of the population do not believe in God or follow any organized group (Gemeinde).


In the other hand, the city is proud by the economical strenght given by many reasons, as the Port facilities, the arts, industries, well organized public services and research network. The rest of population (maybe around 35%) belong to the protestant branch of the christian family, which is the most spread tendency in the local culture and this fact, was decisive in the self-definition of the city in the last 300 years.


After Reformation, the goverment of the Free-and-Hanseatic city of Hamburg, forbid the public activities of the catholic branch of the christians. Hence that people should built another temple outside the city, and the solution is founded today as milestone of the contradition: a unique temple was built in the west sector of city's borderlines, exactly where started the Danish side, the "Big Freedom" (Große Freiheit)...


From the post-Reformation times there are today several churches in the downtown, and the first possible to see from the Elbe is the Michaelis (St.Michael Church), then if you go to the Main-station will find the Nikolai (yet burned ruins), then St.Katherine, then Petri, then Pauli, and so on.




Maybe due its history, the strategic localization, relative high tower, and nice architecture, the Michaeliskirche is today an important symbol as a "heart" of the city: It receives the support of private and public organizations, and is a active "treffenpunkt" for charity events. Apart from the politic and cultural point of view around this Church, i found that a piece of art on the "Fassade", which is unique, extraordinary...


The other two photos illustrate a very dinamic statue inspired on a from old history from Monoteismus (Jew, Christian, Muslim): the fallen angel lost the first big fight after the Creation of the world. This fight was not directly with God (Gott) himself, but with a very brave and loyal angel (Engel).

Michael (Michel) was designated by G-d for a singular duty: to defeat the Devil. Michel was called due his loyallity and bravery, required skills to beat the rebel angel in a unique battle.

As we should remember, the fall of the humankind was preceded for the fall of the rebel angel. The detail in this statue, the Cross in the hand of the angel, is the distinctive signal of faith in the Messiah (from Hebrew "Mäshiach", the anointed): the main principle that join the christians worldwide.



Hugo