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Landmark Dresden Church Completes Rise From the Ashes
Dresden's Frauenkirche, a symbol of the suffering of German civilians after its destruction in World War II bombing and now of reconciliation, was consecrated Sunday after painstaking restoration.
The church is perhaps Dresden's most famous landmark and the image of it in ruins is known worldwide as a symbol of the destruction of World War II.
The Baroque church stood for decades as a decapitated, empty shell. But that changed in 1990 when a group of people began gathering funds to rebuild it. Now, after a decade of reconstruction, the Frauenkirche stands once again in its full splendor, with a consecration ceremony Sunday officially reopening the church to the public.
People from around the world are visiting Dresden for the festivities. German President Horst Köhler is attending, attend, as is outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his designated successor, Angela Merkel.
Britain, which led the bombing raids, has contributed more than one million euros in donations towards the reconstruction and the Duke of Kent, who is patron of the fundraising Dresden Trust, is attending Sunday's ceremony to represent the British royal family.
The tens of thousands of spectators at Sunday's consecration will marvel at a golden cross and orb donated by the English city of Coventry, which itself was flattened by German bombing during World War II.
(...)
Dresden's Frauenkirche, a symbol of the suffering of German civilians after its destruction in World War II bombing and now of reconciliation, was consecrated Sunday after painstaking restoration.
The church is perhaps Dresden's most famous landmark and the image of it in ruins is known worldwide as a symbol of the destruction of World War II.
The Baroque church stood for decades as a decapitated, empty shell. But that changed in 1990 when a group of people began gathering funds to rebuild it. Now, after a decade of reconstruction, the Frauenkirche stands once again in its full splendor, with a consecration ceremony Sunday officially reopening the church to the public.
People from around the world are visiting Dresden for the festivities. German President Horst Köhler is attending, attend, as is outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his designated successor, Angela Merkel.
Britain, which led the bombing raids, has contributed more than one million euros in donations towards the reconstruction and the Duke of Kent, who is patron of the fundraising Dresden Trust, is attending Sunday's ceremony to represent the British royal family.
The tens of thousands of spectators at Sunday's consecration will marvel at a golden cross and orb donated by the English city of Coventry, which itself was flattened by German bombing during World War II.
(...)
1945: http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_..._ind_1,00.html
Today: http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_...758986,00.html
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