The Dresden Frauenkirche rose from the ruins five years ago

Dresden - Over 100,000 people, including many distinguished guests from around the world, did not miss this historic moment. Five years ago, on October 30, 2005, the Church of Our Lady, also known as Frauenkirche, was reconsecrated in Dresden. One of the main landmarks of the Saxon metropolis rose from the ruins 60 years after it was completely destroyed by allied bombing at the end of World War II. Due to its troubled history, the Church of Our Lady has become a worldwide symbol of tolerance, "a work of reconciliation and a reminder of peace," as described by Saxon State Bishop Jochen Bohl during the festive reopening.
     Frauenkirche has a rich millennium-long history. The first church building, which stood in the 11th century at the site of today's baroque temple, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It served missionaries who brought Christianity to the surrounding Serbian villages. By the early 13th century, after the establishment of Dresden, it became the city parish church, where all important church ceremonies, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals, took place. As the fame of Dresden grew, meanwhile the residence of the Saxon electors, the church's capacity began to fall short. It was expanded and rebuilt several times. However, it retained its name even after the Reformation when it was handed over to the Protestant church, which does not practice the cult of Mary. Its current form was achieved between 1726 and 1743. During this period, the famous dome, known as the stone bell, was also constructed, which was a real engineering challenge.
     Following the carpet bombing of British and American forces on February 13, 1945, the church building initially stood. It collapsed two days later. Its sandstone walls long withstood the destructive fire, but ultimately could not bear the weight of the massive dome. The famous temple lay in ruins, just like the vast majority of Dresden, known for its architectural beauty as "Florence on the Elbe." The work of destruction was completed after the war by the communist bureaucracy, which ignored the original layout of the city during its construction modifications and had numerous damaged buildings simply demolished. Some other remnants, including the Frauenkirche, remained unrepaired at their places - as a reminder of the war's trials.
     The restoration of the sacred building was not a priority for the communist regime, so hope for it only arose after the fall of Erich Honecker and the Berlin Wall. Early in the 1990s, civic initiatives in Dresden raised their heads, which managed to inspire hundreds of thousands of people worldwide for their idea of rebuilding the Frauenkirche. Initially, the ruins were removed from the church, and in 1994, new construction began. Over the next 11 years, it was built piece by piece according to the original plans of George Bähr. All historical stones that could be found were used in its construction. A total of 8,425 were used, accounting for 45 percent of the entire structure. To this day, they can be easily distinguished from the new ones - they have a much darker color. The total cost of the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche exceeded 180 million euros (about 4.4 billion crowns). Most of it was paid by private donors, with about 40 percent provided by public budgets.
     Today, the Frauenkirche is an "open church" for everyone. It primarily serves as a place of gathering and hosts various events. In addition to services, it often hosts concerts, literary evenings, discussions, and lectures. It offers guided tours of the interior as well as access to the dome, from whose terrace there is a unique view of the entire city. For many, the restoration of the Frauenkirche is living proof that reconciliation among people and nations is possible and that old wounds can fully heal over time.