Open Monument Day with "Donation / Indulgence Sermon"
Sunday 12 September
10:00 a.m. Church service in the Herrgottskirche
11:00 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. "Donation / Indulgence Sermon" by Mayor Hehn from the outside pulpit of the Herrgottskirche.
Inauguration Miniature Altar
Saturday, 14 August 2021, 7:00 pm
You are cordially invited to the inauguration of a miniature copy of Tilman Riemenschneider's altar.
Klaus Schoettle was deeply impressed by Tilman Riemenschneider's Marian altar during his first visit in 1958 and created a small work of art himself over decades of work: He carved a miniature version of the altar, only 30cm high!
This unique work of art will be presented to the public on Saturday, 14 August, at 7.00 pm. The parish of Creglingen has invited Klaus Schoettle and his wife Monika Adam to Creglingen in the Herrgottskirche.
On this evening Karl-Heinz Rehfeld will play Mozart songs and the soprano Beate Baumann from Weikersheim will sing Marian songs.
We are looking forward to an impressive evening!
Prayer for the Assumption of Mary
Sunday, 15 August 2021, 5:00 p.m.
A devotion will be celebrated as a prelude to the Miracle of Light season. Following this year's summer sermon series '1700 years of Jewish life in Germany', the devotion will focus on the Jewish Mary.
We look forward to your visit!
Small church- Big Wonder
the "Light wonder" in the Riemenschneider altar
August 15th is the day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In Creglingen near Rothenburg ob der Tauber and in the middle of the "Lovely Tauber Valley" guests will find something very special:
the masterpiece by Tilman Riemenschneider!
In a side valley of the Tauber - the "Herrgottstal" - the path leads to the "Herrgottskirche" one kilometre outside the village. Art lovers from all over the world admire the famous altar of Mary every year.
In the centre of the masterpiece the artist Tilman Riemenschneider shows the Assumption of Mary.
As an extraordinary experience - sunshine in the evening hours provided - visitors can watch the so-called "light miracle" from August 15th!
The interplay of the representation of Mary in the altar and the wandering sunlight creates a fascinating symbiosis...
What happens? A Gothic window adorns the western end of the chapel, which was built by the von Hohenlohe-Brauneck family and completed in 1389.
Between August 15th and August 31st, the position of the sun in the evening - best seen from about 5 - 6 pm -, the window and the area of the statue of the Virgin Mary in the altar form a line. For the observer it almost seems as if the Ascension of Mary could be experienced in person
One must know that the church is actually very dark - the artificial lighting of the Marian altar is therefore minimized in this "miracle of light".
Now, when a ray of light highlights the figure of Mary from the altar surroundings, it was a dramatic effect at the time that made an impression.
A medieval "spotlight"!
Longer opening hours during the "Light wonder"
In the period from 15th to 31st August 2021 the Herrgottskirche will be opened until 18:30 p.m.. Please note that the church is also closed during this period on Mondays (16th, 23rd and 30th August).
Hour of natural light 2021
Sunday, 4th July til Sunday, 11th July 2021 - Closed on Monday 5th July 2021
The church renovation of 2011 brought a new electrical lighting concept. Since then, the altar of the Virgin Mary by Tilman Riemenschneider shines in a special light.
But there are also voices that say that the altar is more expressive in natural light. A comparison is possible again this year:
During the hour of natural light the electrical light gets switched off in the time from 17 to 18 o'clock!
The colour of the wood, the spatial impression (the new - different shading) and the detailed workings, change in a very interesting way.
Who enters the church shortly before 17 o'clock, sees both light variants!
Let us surprise you!
Do not confuse the hour of natural light with the miracle of light. You can admire the miracle of light from 15th - 31st August 2021.
Hour of natural light from 30th June to 7th July 2019.
See the altar as Tilman Riemenschneider has possibly seen it.
Each day from 17:00 to 18:00: The electric lights are switched off.
Creglinger "Light miracle": 15th bis 31st August
Not really a miracle, but wonderful: Maria on its way to heaven is surrounded by the late afternoon sunligh. A great light - room - composition!
From 17:00 to 18:00 - depending on the sun - one can a witness of this event.
15th August: 17:00 Uhr Meditation to Marias ascension
The ALTERheritage project of the European community cares for the religiuous heritage of the ancient times. All over Europe chapels like the Herrgottskirche face similar challenges of how to preserve this huge treasure of buildings. The Alterheritage shows how people can take benefits of these buildings today.
Download and Read the current PDF report here.
