In the April 2016 General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf used a beloved German landmark to illustrate gospel principles.
He discussed how the city of Dresden had once been the jewel box of the city, but had been ravaged by World War II. The destruction of beautiful Lutheran church known as the Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady) was an especially painful loss to bear. However, after the reunification of Germany, the church was rebuilt and finally reconsecrated on October 30, 2005.
“Stones from the destroyed church had been stored and cataloged and, when possible, were used in the reconstruction,” President Uchtdorf said. “Today you can see these fire-blackened stones pockmarking the outer walls. These “scars” are not only a reminder of the war history of this building but also a monument to hope—a magnificent symbol of man’s ability to create new life from ashes.”
Here are 20 unique photos of this beautiful building, including paintings, photos of the damage and reconstruction, and spectacular modern-day views!
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“Dresden Market with the Frauenkirche.” Painting by Bernardo Bellotto from 1749-1751.
The Frauenkirche, between 1860 and 1890. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Bombing of Dresden began in February 1945 by Allied forces. The Frauenkirche stood for two days, before becoming so hot from the heat of the bombs that it shattered and exploded. Courtesy of the German Federal Archives.
35,000 people were killed during the bombing of Dresden. Recovery efforts would take years. Courtesy of Deutsche Fotothek.
Not long after the war was over, residents already began trying to salvage unique pieces of the Frauenkirche. Courtesy of Wikimapia.
The Frauenkirche ruins, 1957. Courtesy of marinika-0912.
Street view of the Frauenkirche, August 1988. Courtesy of Flickr.
In this photo, stones and fragments of the Frauenkirche are cataloged to be used in the reconstruction. Courtesy of Greg O’Beirne.
In 1989, 14 people gathered together to start a committed dedicated to the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche. It quickly grew to over 5,000 members in multiple countries. Günter Blobel, a Nobel Prize Winner for medicine, donated all of his reward money to the restoration project. Reconstruction began in 1994. Courtesy of Wikimedia.
Reconstruction of the Frauenkirche’s interior. Courtesy of Frauenkirche Dresden.
The Frauenkirche is officially reconsecrated on Reformation Day (October 31) in 2005. Courtesy of STESAD.
As President Uchtdorf said in his talk, many original bricks, blackened by fire, were used in the reconstruction. Courtesy of Mike Griffin.
The interior and alter of the Frauenkirche.
A preserved piece of the original dome stands as a monument outside of the rebuilt church. Courtesy of Flickr.
The Frauenkirche during Christmas, 2011. Courtesy of Waterloo Birdhaus.
A street view of the Frauenkirche. Courtesy of the Crazy Tourist.
The Frauenkirche at night. Courtesy of Fotostrasse.
A Lego model of the Frauenkirche. Courtesy of Nontrovonomi.
The organ in the Frauenkirche. Courtesy of tumblr.
A cloudy evening at the Frauenkirche. Courtesy of Atlas Obscura.
