Hallelujah! Altar of St. Catherine's Church shines after restoration

Hallelujah! Altar of St. Catherine's Church shines after restoration

The East German Sparkasse Foundation recently caused a stir in Brandenburg an der Havel. During their spring meeting onJune 16, 2025The focus was on St. Catherine's Church. Pastor Jens Meiburg led the foundation representatives through the impressive church and introduced the newly restored altar as the heart of the facility. However, this restoration is only part of the foundation's broader commitment to preserving the region's cultural heritage. The restoration of the organ was previously supported, and together with the funding of the altar, an important piece of identity and community is preserved here. Mayor Steffen Scheller expressed his thanks for the support, which plays a valuable role in the city's cultural life.

Among the guests at the event were numerous representatives of the sponsors, including the Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse and the State of Brandenburg (MWFK). The restoration of the high altar is a project of great magnitude. This altar, an impressive Gothic work from 1474, was created by Gerard Weger and measures 8.05 x 5.37 meters. Equipped with movable wings, it shows different views and is an important example of Gothic art from the second half of the 15th century.

A Gothic masterpiece

A ceremony to celebrate the completed restoration will take place onNovember 25th, Saint Catherine's Day. Dr. Dorothee Schmidt-Breitung, who worked as a supervising restoration specialist, describes the restoration as a complex challenge for a work of art of historical value. The altarpiece contains around 40 painted scenes as well as numerous reliefs and wooden sculptures, which have now been carefully restored. Lost parts have been re-carved and the historical color versions have been successfully preserved. The wings of the altar can now be easily opened and closed again, which increases the accessibility of this work of art for visitors to the church.

The cultural significance of the high altar is emphasized not only by its artistic execution, but also by its function as a place of reflection and community. St. Catherine's Church is not only a place of faith, but also a cultural center that adds value to the city and its history.

Culture in focus

In a broader context, the Cultural Foundation of the States highlights the works of the important painter Caspar David Friedrich, whose 250th birthday is being celebrated with various exhibitions. His key works, which were formative for Romanticism in Germany, can be seen in Hamburg, Berlin, Greifswald and Dresden. The preservation of such cultural treasures is also part of the mission of many foundations and institutions that are committed to historical heritage.

You can find out more about the current events and the commitment of the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung to St. Katharinenkirche on the website of Meeting point Brandenburg and BLDAM. For further information about Caspar David Friedrich, please visit the Cultural Foundation of the States at kulturstiftung.de.