Did the Ansgar-Säule always stand here, a solitary sentinel? No. The Ansgar-Säule, a bronze monument, was erected in 1965. It stands on Ansgarikirchhof, a testament to Bremen’s rich history. It commemorates both Saint Ansgar and the loss of St. Ansgarii Church. The church, a Bremen landmark for centuries, was tragically destroyed in 1944 during World War II. The church’s tower, once a defining feature of the city’s skyline, crumbled, also destroying the original Ansgar monument. This first monument, a marble depiction of Ansgar freeing a heathen, was created in 1865 for the 1000th anniversary of Ansgar’s death.
The Ansgar-Säule that you see before you today is the second monument. It rises as a bronze column, topped with a cross. Resting on the column are a Bible and the hull of a ship. These symbols represent the core of Ansgar’s mission: the Bible, the word of God, the ship, his travels, and the cross, his faith. The sculptor, Kurt-Wolf von Borries, chose these symbols carefully. They not only embody Ansgar’s missionary work but also symbolize the destruction and rebuilding of faith and community.
Ansgar, the “Apostle of the North,” was Archbishop of Hamburg and Bremen after 831. He also served as a papal legate and missionary bishop for Scandinavia. He eventually moved his seat to Bremen in 848/849. He became the patron saint of the historical dioceses of Bremen and Hamburg, and a protector of travelers, hence the ship on the column. St. Ansgarii Church, named in his honor, was a central point in Bremen’s history. It was the heart of one of Bremen’s four parishes and the center of its political and social life.
The Ansgar-Säule reminds us of both the man and the building that once stood here. It is a symbol of resilience. It speaks of loss and remembrance, but also of the enduring power of faith. It’s a reminder of Bremen’s ability to rebuild and honor its past while looking toward the future. Take a moment to let the weight of this history sink in as you admire the Ansgar-Säule and its symbolic representation of Bremen’s past.