Blessing to go: Potsdam devotion for working people in the Garrison Church!

Blessing to go: Potsdam devotion for working people in the Garrison Church!

On June 24, 2025, the Garrison Church in Potsdam will be the focus of a special offer for working people: a short prayer service will take place there every Wednesday at 9 a.m. This event, which has grown in popularity in recent weeks, is well received as it offers a welcome respite from a hectic week. The devotion includes a mixture of music, small thoughts to start the day and a blessing to take home, which is very popular with the people of Potsdam. Many people appreciate the opportunity to pause for a moment with a cup of coffee to go and recharge their batteries for the day, like [rbb here](https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/der-tag-in-berlin-und-brandenburg/segen-to-go-in-der-gar nisonkirche/rbb/Y3JpZDovL3JiYl8xZmJmNGYyNi0yNTY3LTQ2YjQtODNmZC1hZWY0MTIwYzNjOWNfcHVibGljYXRpb24) reported.

But the garrison church has more than just spiritual significance. An exciting exhibition was opened in the church tower, which focuses on 300 years of history under the title “Faith, Power and Military”. With around 350 objects, interactive media, films and audio files, the exhibition particularly appeals to young people and adults. Visitors are invited to ask critical questions about the past, drawing a historical arc from the time of Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I to the current debate about freedoms and democracy. The curator of the exhibition, Dr. Jürgen Reiche, would like to recall the ambivalent history of Prussia and Potsdam and encourage us to think about what lessons we can draw from history, as garnisonkirche-potsdam.de informs.

A tragic story and comprehensive reconstruction

The Garrison Church, a masterpiece of the North German Baroque, was built between 1730 and 1735 under the direction of King Friedrich Wilhelm I and shaped the cityscape of Potsdam with its almost 90 meter high tower. Over the years the church has experienced many ups and downs. After severe damage in a British air raid in 1945, the ruins of the church were blown up in 1968 to make room for a data center. The reconstruction of the church only gained momentum with a call in 2004, and the church tower has been being restored since 2017. Completion of the work is scheduled for 2024, with the new Cross of Nails Chapel opening on Easter Monday 2024. In addition, a 57-meter-high viewing platform is planned for August 2024, which will offer visitors a spectacular view, according to information on Wikipedia).

But reconstruction is not without controversy. Critics raise concerns about the symbolism and future use of the place of worship. The necessary financial outlay totaling 44 million euros is discussed, of which 24.75 million euros are provided by the federal government. While some see a return to a historical legacy, it is important to keep conversations alive about the meaning of the church in today's society.

Regardless of whether it is a devotion or an exhibition – the Garrison Church remains a place of dialogue where past and present meet. This not only shows the commitment to the work of remembrance, but also invites us to reflect on current issues in a historical context.