Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is the second Protestant
church in the Old City of Jerusalem (the first being Christ Church
near Jaffa Gate). It is a property of the Evangelical Jerusalem Foundation, one of the three foundations of the Evangelical Church in Germany
(EKD) in the Holy Land
. Built between 1893 and 1898 by the architect Paul Ferdinand Groth (*1859-1955*) following the designs of Friedrich Adler
, the Church of the Redeemer currently houses Lutheran congregations that worship in Arabic, German, Danish, and English. The Church, together with the adjoining provost building, is the seat of the Provost of the German Protestant Ministries in the Holy Land ("Evangelisch in Jerusalem"). It also serves as the headquarters of the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, since this Arabic-speaking (Palestinian
) church became independent from the German provost in 1979.
Built on land given to King William I of Prussia (after 1870 Kaiser Wilhelm I) in 1869 by Sultan Abdülaziz
of the Ottoman Empire
, the church was constructed from 1892-1898. The location had been the site of the old church of St. Mary Minor. In 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a trip to Jerusalem to personally dedicate the new church. For the dedication of the church, the Kaiser entered the city on horse back through to specially made ceremonial arches, one a gift of the Ottoman Empire and one a gift from the local Jewish community.. The church was dedicated on Reformation Day
, 1898. At the dedication, Wilhelm said:
Since end of May 1940 Redeemer Church had been closed for services. By 1950 first the Palestinian
Lutheran congregation resumed services, later the Evangelical congregation of German language followed.
In the garden next to the church is a memorial marking the location of the crusader headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. John.
for their deceased. Between 1903 and 1940 the provostry (Propstei) was located in its own building in #42 Street of the Prophets
(today's Jerusalem ORT
campus), now it is next to Redeemer Church. Today the provost serves the Protestant congregation of German language and is simultaneously the representative of the Evangelical Church in Germany
in Israel, the Westbank and Jordan. In the capacity, he oversees the properties of the Evangelical Jerusalem Foundation and the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria-Foundation in Jerusalem as well as the German Protestant Community Center in Amman, Jordan.
List of pastors and provosts with their terms:
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
church in the Old City of Jerusalem (the first being Christ Church
Christ Church, Jerusalem
Christ Church, Jerusalem is an Anglican church located near the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem.It is the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East. Three architects planned the church, first William Curry Hillier , then James Wood Johns, who was dismissed and replaced by Matthew Habershon in January 1843...
near Jaffa Gate). It is a property of the Evangelical Jerusalem Foundation, one of the three foundations of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
(EKD) in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. Built between 1893 and 1898 by the architect Paul Ferdinand Groth (*1859-1955*) following the designs of Friedrich Adler
Friedrich Adler (architect)
Friedrich Adler was a German architect and archaeologist.After having studied at the Academy of Architecture in his native Berlin, he began teaching there in 1855, and was soon famous for building churches....
, the Church of the Redeemer currently houses Lutheran congregations that worship in Arabic, German, Danish, and English. The Church, together with the adjoining provost building, is the seat of the Provost of the German Protestant Ministries in the Holy Land ("Evangelisch in Jerusalem"). It also serves as the headquarters of the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, since this Arabic-speaking (Palestinian
Palestinian Arabic
Palestinian Arabic is a Levantine Arabic dialect subgroup spoken by Palestinians and the majority of Arab-Israelis. Rural varieties of this dialect exhibit several distinctive features; particularly the pronunciation of qaf as kaf, which distinguish them from other Arabic varieties...
) church became independent from the German provost in 1979.
Built on land given to King William I of Prussia (after 1870 Kaiser Wilhelm I) in 1869 by Sultan Abdülaziz
Abdülâziz
Abdülaziz I or Abd Al-Aziz, His Imperial Majesty was the 32nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between 25 June 1861 and 30 May 1876...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the church was constructed from 1892-1898. The location had been the site of the old church of St. Mary Minor. In 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a trip to Jerusalem to personally dedicate the new church. For the dedication of the church, the Kaiser entered the city on horse back through to specially made ceremonial arches, one a gift of the Ottoman Empire and one a gift from the local Jewish community.. The church was dedicated on Reformation Day
Reformation Day
Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31 in remembrance of the Reformation, particularly by Lutheran and some Reformed church communities...
, 1898. At the dedication, Wilhelm said:
Since end of May 1940 Redeemer Church had been closed for services. By 1950 first the Palestinian
Palestinian Arabic
Palestinian Arabic is a Levantine Arabic dialect subgroup spoken by Palestinians and the majority of Arab-Israelis. Rural varieties of this dialect exhibit several distinctive features; particularly the pronunciation of qaf as kaf, which distinguish them from other Arabic varieties...
Lutheran congregation resumed services, later the Evangelical congregation of German language followed.
In the garden next to the church is a memorial marking the location of the crusader headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. John.
Pastors and provosts
Since 1852 a pastor served the Protestant congregation of German language in Jerusalem. Since 1871 the congregation convened in the Muristan Chapel, since the inauguration of Redeemer Church the congregation uses that church and their pastors are ranked provost . The congregation shares Mount Zion CemeteryMount Zion Cemetery, Jerusalem
The Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Israel is a cemetery owned by the Anglican Church Missionary Trust Association Ltd., London, represented by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and The Middle East...
for their deceased. Between 1903 and 1940 the provostry (Propstei) was located in its own building in #42 Street of the Prophets
Street of the Prophets
Street of the Prophets is an east-west axis road in Jerusalem beginning outside Damascus Gate and ending at Davidka Square. Located to the north of Jaffa Road, it bisects the neighborhood of Musrara....
(today's Jerusalem ORT
World ORT
World ORT is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is the advancement of Jewish and other people through training and education, with past and present activities in over 100 countries....
campus), now it is next to Redeemer Church. Today the provost serves the Protestant congregation of German language and is simultaneously the representative of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
in Israel, the Westbank and Jordan. In the capacity, he oversees the properties of the Evangelical Jerusalem Foundation and the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria-Foundation in Jerusalem as well as the German Protestant Community Center in Amman, Jordan.
List of pastors and provosts with their terms:
- 1852–1866 Friedrich Peter Valentiner (*1817–1894*)
- 1866–1869 Carl Hoffmann (*1836–1903*), nephew of Christoph HoffmannChristoph HoffmannGottlob Christoph Jonathan Hoffmann was born in Leonberg in the Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany. His parents were Beate Baumann and Gottieb Wilhelm Hoffmann , chairman of the Unitas Fratrum congregation in Korntal.Christoph Hoffmann had a Pietist-Christian background and enjoyed a Christian...
- 1870–1876 Hermann Weser (*1842–1911*)
- 1876–1884 Carl Reinicke (*1850–1915*)
- 1885–1895 Carl Schlicht (*1855–1930*)
- 1895–1903 Paul Hoppe (*1856–1937*), ranked provost since 1898
- 1903–1910 Wilhelm Bussmann (*1864–1936*)
- 1910–1921 Friedrich Jeremias (*1868–1945*), interned by the British forces since 1918, later exiled, father of Joachim JeremiasJoachim JeremiasJoachim Jeremias was a German Lutheran theologian, scholar of Near Eastern Studies and university professor for New Testament studies. He was abbot of Bursfelde, 1968–1971....
- 1921 Gustaf DalmanGustaf DalmanGustaf Hermann Dalman was a German Lutheran theologian and orientalist. He did extensive field work in Palestine, collecting poetry and proverbs.-Works:...
(per pro) - 1921–1922 Albrecht AltAlbrecht AltAlbrecht Alt , was a leading German Protestant theologian.Eldest son of a Lutheran minister, he completed high school in Ansbach and studied theology at the Friedrich-Alexander-University in Erlangen and the University of Leipzig...
- 1923–1930 Hans Wilhelm Hertzberg (*1895–1965*)
- 1930–1938 Ernst Rhein (*1885–1969*)
- 1938–1954 Johannes Doering (*1900–1969*), interned by the British forces by end of May 1940 till 1945
- 1954–1960 Joachim Weigelt
- 1960–1965 Carl Malsch (*1916–2001*), simultaneously spiritual head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and the Holy Land) (ELCJ)
- 1965–1971 Hansgeorg Köhler, simultaneously spiritual head of ELCJ
- 1971–1979 Helmut Glatte, until 1977 simultaneously spiritual head of ELCJ
- 1979–1985 Jürgen Wehrmann
- 1985–1991 Johannes FriedrichJohannes Friedrich (bishop)Johannes Friedrich is German Lutheran theologian and a German Lutheran bishop.-Education and career:...
- 1991–2001 Karl-Heinz Ronecker
- 2001–2006 Martin Reyer
- since May 2006 Uwe Gräbe