Erected in just eight months, Heilig Blut Kirche emerged in 1934. The story of this church is entwined with architectural innovation and resilience. It stands as a testament to Munich’s rebuilding spirit.
Heilig Blut Kirche history began amid the growing Catholic parish of St. George in Munich-Bogenhausen. The city offered land on Secchiplatz after the First World War. This was for constructing a new church.
Hans Döllgast, a lecturer at the Technical University of Munich, designed Heilig Blut Kirche. The church combines traditional forms and modern elements. Its white walls showcase a modern architectural concept. Simplicity and straightness define its aesthetic.
Notice the windowless gable front. Günther Grassmann’s mosaic adorns it. The mosaic features two angels. They hold the Veil of Veronica. It shows Christ’s image. Also, see the coat of arms of Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber.
Inside Heilig Blut, a bright hall unfolds. Fourteen slender concrete columns divide the space. Originally, these columns supported a flat stucco ceiling.
Originally designed as a spire, the bell tower met a tragic fate. A bombing raid in 1943 destroyed the tower and stucco ceiling.
Reconstruction started in 1950. Hans Döllgast again led the effort. The belfry was raised ten meters higher. A gable roof finished the tower. A smooth wooden ceiling replaced the stucco.
Heilig Blut Kirche gained significance through figures like Pater Alfred Delp and Hermann Josef Wehrle. Before their arrest in 1944, they served as pastors here.
From August 1951 to September 1952, Joseph Ratzinger was a chaplain here. He later became Pope Benedict XVI. In 2009, the entrance portal was dedicated to him.
Pause a moment to appreciate the art within Heilig Blut. The high altar image by Albert Burkart recalls Renaissance art. It shows Christ with angels. They collect blood from his wound. Also, admire the oil painting by Oswald Hofmann on the north exterior wall.
Look around at the modern elements. Note the glass entrance designed by Josef Henselmann. It has a fiery red hue.
Heilig Blut stands not only as a religious site. It embodies architectural resilience. It reflects Munich’s spiritual and artistic soul. This church connects the past with the present.