Allerheiligen Kirche

Hidden within Hamburg’s Neugraben-Fischbek district lies the Allerheiligen Kirche. It serves as a spiritual home for Ukrainian immigrants. The Allerheiligen Kirche isn’t just a building. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of faith. In the late 1970s, a vision began to take shape. Ukrainian immigrants, longing for a connection to their Byzantine-rite traditions, sought to establish a church. Their dream gained momentum after a visit from Großerzbischof Jossyf Kardinal Slipyj in 1969. The Allerheiligen Kirche, dedicated to all saints of the Eastern and Western Churches, was finally consecrated in 1980. Architect Karlheinz Bargholz designed the Allerheiligen Kirche. He chose a square brick structure, culminating in an eastern apse. A shallow copper dome, crowned by a cross-topped lantern, arches gracefully overhead. Large windows pierce the angled sides of the dome, flooding the interior with natural light. In contrast, the ground floor walls feature only narrow pairs of arched windows. A white bell tower houses the church bells. A mosaic of the blessing Christ, created by Erentrud Trost OSB, adorns the tympanum of the portal. Stepping inside the Allerheiligen Kirche is like entering another world. The space is divided into three distinct areas. There is the entrance area, the nave for the congregation, and the sanctuary, separated by the iconostasis. The church is richly adorned with artwork. The ceiling frescoes are particularly striking. Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by angels, prophets, and evangelists, graces the dome. Above the altar, a Maria orans holds the blessing Christ Child. These frescoes, along with the numerous icons, are the work of Serbian monk Danilo Marunić. The Allerheiligen Kirche stands as a vibrant symbol of Ukrainian heritage in Hamburg. It’s a place where faith, art, and community converge.