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...sparkling
Baroque city of the Arts. |
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night is February 13, 1945. World War II is almost over. Dresden
will never forget how the inner city, packed with refugees and prisoners
of war was destroyed, with thousands losing their lives.
Undaunted, Dresden is
rising again, to live up to its name as "Florence of the Elbe".
This city is bursting with culture, notably the Semper Opera House
and the Zwinger Palace. The renovations of the fabulous Frauenkirche
(Church of our Lady) are almost complete. This is Germany's largest
Protestant Church.
Did you know that Dresden was home to Karl May (1842-1912) the best-selling
author in Germany? His best-loved character was Apache Chief Winnetou.
The famed Dresden Boys Choir was founded during a religious revival
around 1200 and still sing at the Church of the Holy Cross, when
not touring.
If you're a member of the Lutheran Missouri Synod, your heritage
comes from Trinity Lutheran in Dresden.
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Meissen
Porcelain Factory. (Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur
Meissen) German hard-paste, or true, porcelain has been produced
at the Meissen factory, near Dresden in Saxony (now Germany), from
1710 until the present day.It was the first successfully produced
true porcelain in Europe and dominated the style of European porcelain
until c. 1756. The high point of the Meissen factory was reached
after 1731 with the modeling of Johann Joachim Kandler. The onion
pattern, introduced c. 1739, was widely copied. Meissen porcelain
is marked with crossed blue swords."Meissen
Porcelain." Britannica Concise
Encyclopedia. 2003. Encyclopædia Britannica. The museum
is open daily from 9 -5.Back
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Trinity
Lutheran. In the beginning of the 1800’s, a group
of devout Lutherans gathered under the leadership of Pastor Martin
Stephan, pastor of Trinity Lutheran. Click
here to read more of the story. Their services in Dresden had
been banned, so approximately 800 decided to emigrate to America.
Arriving in St. Louis in 1841, Pastor Walther (after Stephan was
expelled) took a leading role in the Missouri Synod, founded in
1847. He became the founding president of the Synod.
Click here to read a fascinating article, 'The Lutheran Church
-- Missouri Synod at One Hundred & Fifty Years 1847 to 1997'. written
by Rev. Mark Loest, Concordia Historical Institute.
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Frauenkirche.
(Church of our Lady). Germany's largest Protestant church, the Frauenkirche
was completed in 1743 and has now been fully restored. J. S. Bach
was one of the first people to play the Silberman organ when the
church opened. On February 13, 1945 when Dresden was bombed, the
church wasn't hit, but collapsed 2 days later from fire damage.
In 1992, work on reconstruction began and is now complete. One of
the most interesting features is the dome which is built entirely
of stone, and nicknamed the "stone bell". Back
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The Zwinger.
This Versailles- inspired Baroque collection of buildings, commissioned
by Elector August the Strong (1670 - 1733) houses the 'Old Masters
Collection', containing paintings by Rubens (1577-1640), Rembrandt
(1606-69), Cranach (1472-1553), the Semper Opera house, a Porcelain
collection and the Royal Armory. Back
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 Christian
History Highlights in Dresden: |
-Martin
Luther
(1483-1546) visited in 1516 and 1518. The printer Wolfgang Stöcke,
turned against Luther, burning his books.
-When Heinrich the Pious
and his sons became Christians around 1540, they gradually transformed
their lands into a Protestant area.
-Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
composer and choirmaster developed the Baroque style of music.
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 Selected
Cultural Events in Dresden: |
| Dresden
Music Festival.
May
-June |
| International
Dixieland Festival. May |
| Zwinger
Concerts. May - September |
| Semper
Opera House. Year
round |
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Have
you been to Dresden? Maybe you live there...we want to here
from you! Use the following form to tell us your recommendations. Thank
you! |
©
Reformation Tours, LLC 2003
P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222
Tel: (618) 222-9914 • Fax: (618) 222-9917 • Toll Free: (800) 303-5534
info@reformationtours.com
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