Pathway of experience
When do bombs bring peace?
Father forgive...
When the German Air Force bombed Coventry Cathedral to rubble on November 14, 1940, Provost Richard Howard vowed not to seek revenge, but to strive for reconciliation and to build a “kinder, more Christ-like world” with those who were called enemies.
Two of the burnt-out roof beams formed the new altar and three of the roof nails became the new altar cross. Richard Howard wrote “ Father forgive” on the walls of the burnt-out ruin.
Which of these three symbols can you also find here in the Frauenkirche?
Less than five years later, the British army bombed Dresden and the Frauenkirche suffered the same fate as many churches throughout Europe and the world before it. It burnt to the ground and finally collapsed. The Christ-like world seemed very far away.
Many people hid in the cellars of the lower church during the air raids. How do you feel when you come down the stairs here?
Would you feel safe here?
When you are downstairs, you will find the room of decision somewhat hidden. Imagine having to hide from air raids - still a reality for many people in the world today.
Could you envision praying for forgiveness for the people who attack you?
Our options are visualized in the Room of Decision. We can hold on to the enemy images that are burned into us through violence and pain. Or we can embrace the healing of the wounds inflicted on us in a Christ-like manner and decide not to inflict new wounds on others.
Which path would you take?
With the Cross of Nails, Provost Richard Howard has created a symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation that encourages people in over 200 parishes worldwide to choose the harder path. Of course, bombs never bring peace - peace is always the work of people who choose the path of reconciliation despite the bombs and the destruction.
In the Frauenkirche we pray the Cross of Nails every Friday with 2000 people worldwide to gather strength for forgiveness, for the healing of old and new scars and to take courage to recognize the person behind the enemy image.
Fun fact: There are four other Cross of Nails centers in Dresden: Kreuzkirche, Denkraum Sophienkirche, Diakonissenanstalt, and Kirchgemeinde “Maria am Wasser”.
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