Marienkirche
St. Mary church (Marienkirche, St. Marien) is the biggest gothic temple built of bricks in Europe. Probably, at the beginning of 13th century the wooden chapel, which burnt in 1308 was built on the church's place. In 1343 Ludolf König - commandor of teutonic knights agreed for church location and the construction started. In 1361 the main part of construction was done, in 1379 church tower riches only the roof because teutonic knights did not agree if any building to be higher than their castle's tower. At the beginning of 15th century transept and presbytery are constructed.
In 1466, when teutonic knights were expelled from city and the church tower got its todays height. But according to architect's plans it should be much higher - about 160 m, but the plans have never been realised. In 1473 Paul Beneke gave Hans Memling's painting "The Last Judgement" (Jüngstes Gericht) to church. The last brick was added by Henryk Hetzel on Thursday, 28 July 1502 at 4 p.m. and after 159 years the construction was finished. Today church is 105 m long, it has 66 m long transept, 41 m wide main nave, 27 m high walls, it has the area of 5000 m2, with 26 inside pillars, 7 gates and 37 huge windows.
In 1529 diminican monk Pankracy Klemme opened the church for luterans. During next 43 years catholic masses were conducted at the high altar and protestant masses at St. Nicolas altar. Catholics at least lost the church in 1572.
Phases of construction.
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St. Mary church.
) | View from South. |
) | View from North-East. |
) | View from East. |
) | Aerial view of the church. |
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) | Sketch of St. Mary church. |
The church was decorated by many monuments of sacral art, like Hans Memling's "The Last Judgement", Pieta from 1410, Beauty Madonna from 1420, the high altar from 1511, tabernacle with shape of tower from 1482, according to the legend it was a model of church tower in 1:10 scale, Luther's monument, paintings, grave stones, and many others.
St, Mary church interior.
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) | Martin Luther's monument. |
) | Astronommical clock from 1470. |
){kind=small} | Pulpit from 1762 made by Johan Heinrich Meissner. |
){kind=small} | Tower shaped tabernacle. |
) | Hans Memling's "Last Judgement". |
In 30s. of 20th century the big reparations and renovations started. Part of finances were collected from selling the coupons for "the monument of German culture" reparations.
) ) | Coupons for money collection for reparations. |
){kind=small} ) | Church during reparations in 1930s. |
In March 1845 the church was completely ruined by Red Army. Roof and its wooden construction burnet and felt down. All the windows were destroyed and only one gate was saved. The tower burnet out inside and all the clocks felt down or melted in fire. Many of art monumets from church interior were devastated by Soviet soldiers. Hopefully, many of the monuments were hidden in 1944 and survived the war.
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Today, the walls and church's windows are in very bad condition. Many unique todays photos of the church you can see here.
Based on "Danzig und seine Bauten", "Deutsche Bauten - Die Marienkirche zu Danzig" and others.