Between life and death – memorial day in St Mary's Church

In Frankfurt (Oder), this year’s International Day of Brick Gothic is dedicated to funeral and memorial culture. Under the title “Over and done with! Or is it? – Theme Day on the Culture of Remembrance at St. Mary’s,” a series of lectures with a panel discussion will take place on Saturday, June 20, from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Frankfurt (Oder), followed by guided tours and walks through churches and the city.

In addition to lectures on the historical development, significance, and preservation of memorials and burial sites for society, the panel discussion will also address how death, grief, and remembrance are dealt with in our time, both within and outside of various religions. The guided tours will provide insight into the restoration of the Baroque family crypt at St. Mary’s Church, while also exploring Frankfurt’s cemeteries and other memorial sites.

The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks by Mayor Dr. Axel Strasser. This will be followed by presentations by historian Henriette Brendler on the history of funeral customs in Frankfurt (Oder) and by Professor Mechthild Noll-Minor on the role of historic preservation in maintaining 17th- and 18th-century crypts. Werner Schiffauer, professor emeritus at the European University of Frankfurt (Oder), will focus his lecture on the Islamic version of the Antichrist, who, according to tradition, will appear at the end of time.

In the afternoon, starting at 2:00 p.m., a panel discussion will focus on the distinctive features, developments, and challenges of contemporary memory culture in both religious and non-religious contexts. In addition to moderator Professor Dr. Daniel Illger (European University Viadrina), participants include Superintendent Frank Schürer-Behrmann (Protestant Church District of Oderland-Spree), Juliane Langsch-Peters (funeral speaker), Dr. Magdalena Abraham-Diefenbach (cultural studies scholar), and Osman Örs (imam and director of the House of One educational program in Berlin).

Between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m., various guided tours will begin, including one of Frankfurt’s Main Cemetery. The Rost & Rost funeral home will also be present at St. Mary’s Church that afternoon, showcasing the latest innovations in the funeral industry in the side aisle.

The detailed programme for the Remembrance Day and further information on registration can be found on the website of the cultural office kulturbuero-ffo.de.

When and where?

Saturday, 20 June 2026 | between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

St.Marien-Kirche Frankfurt (Oder)
Oberkirchplatz 1, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)

Warm clothing is also recommended for longer events in the church during the summer months.
 

Background: The Brick Gothic Day is initiated by the European Route of Brick Gothic (EuRoB) association, of which the city of Frankfurt (Oder) has been a member since 2012. This year's event format is a joint project of the Kulturbüro Frankfurt (Oder), the European University Viadrina and the Brandenburg State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeological State Museum (BLDAM), financed and supported by the Förderverein St. Marienkirche.