Amidst the bustling energy of Berlin, stands the Jerusalemkirche. A church reborn, a testament to resilience. The original Jerusalemkirche wasn’t always here on Lindenstraße. Its story began centuries ago, outside the city walls, near today’s Gertraudenbrücke. A humble chapel, built by a grateful pilgrim named Müller, who had narrowly escaped a Saracen attack during his travels to Jerusalem. The chapel, a replica of the Holy Sepulchre, became known as the Jerusalem Chapel around 1540. The road leading to it eventually became Jerusalemer Straße. The chapel’s journey through time mirrored the city’s own tumultuous history. It transitioned from Catholic to Lutheran, fell into disrepair during the Thirty Years’ War, and was later revived as a shared space for both Calvinist and Lutheran worship. The church we see today, however, is not the original structure. The ravages of war, particularly an air raid in 1945, left the historic Jerusalemkirche in ruins. The site, located at the intersection of Axel-Springer-Straße, Rudi-Dutschke-Straße, Lindenstraße, and Oranienstraße, became a poignant reminder of loss. But even in ruins, the spirit of Jerusalemkirche endured. The congregation, now largely residing in the Kreuzberg borough, sought to rebuild. In 1967, a new cornerstone was laid a bit further south on Lindenstraße. The modern Jerusalemkirche, designed by architect Sigrid Kressmann-Zschach, rose from the ashes, a symbol of hope and renewal. Although no longer used for regular services by the Evangelical Congregation in Friedrichstadt, it continues to serve as a space for interfaith dialogue, a fitting tribute to its namesake, a city of diverse faiths and cultures. The Jerusalemkirche, a unique blend of history, resilience, and community, invites us to reflect on the enduring power of faith and the ability to rebuild even after devastation.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in