Jan-Wellem-Kapelle

Built on a hilltop, the Jan-Wellem-Kapelle whispers tales of gratitude and royal lineage. Philipp Wilhelm, a man of power and devotion, commissioned this chapel in 1658. It was a gesture of thanks for the birth of his son, Johann Wilhelm, affectionately known as Jan Wellem. The Jan-Wellem-Kapelle, also known as the Kreuzkapelle, stands as a testament to this joyous occasion. It sits on Fährstraße 95 in Düsseldorf-Hamm. Imagine the scene in 1660. The newly completed Renaissance chapel, gleaming in its fresh coat of plaster, becomes a beacon of faith. The chapel’s square structure, with its attached choir section, exudes a quiet elegance. A lunette window, nestled between pilasters, casts soft light into the interior. A richly detailed cornice crowns the masonry. Opposite the choir, a rounded arch marks the entrance. Inside the Jan-Wellem-Kapelle, the space transforms into an octagon. The choir section boasts a cross-ribbed vault. This sacred space served a dual purpose. It was not only a chapel but also the culmination of a pilgrimage route. The distance from the Düsseldorf Residenzschloss to the Jan-Wellem-Kapelle mirrored the believed distance between Pilate’s judgment hall and Mount Golgotha. Until secularization, Jesuit priests conducted services within these hallowed walls. The Jan-Wellem-Kapelle continued to serve as a spiritual haven. From 1958, it housed the Orthodox Parish of the Holy Archangels. This parish belonged to the Exarchate of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe, under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 2008, the parish moved to a larger church. They entrusted the Jan-Wellem-Kapelle to the Georgian Orthodox Church Community “Saint Antimos of Iveria”. Today, the Jan-Wellem-Kapelle continues to resonate with the echoes of prayers and hymns. It stands as a symbol of faith. It is also a quiet reminder of a father’s love for his son, Jan Wellem.