The building of the medieval church began 1343 at the
behest of Ludolf König, commander of Teutonic
Knights, and the church tower had to be built so that it
was lower than the castle tower of the Knights.
behest of Ludolf König, commander of Teutonic
Knights, and the church tower had to be built so that it
was lower than the castle tower of the Knights.
In 1466, when the Knights were expelled from city, the church tower was elevated to today's height.
Construction ended in the year 1502, when the last brick was added by Henryk Hetzel on Thursday,
July 28, 1502 at 4 in the afternoon after 159 years of construction. In 1529, Dominican monk
Pankracy Klemme opened the church for Lutherans and during next 43 years Catholic masses were
conducted at the high altar and Protestant masses at St. Nicolas altar. Catholics lost the church at last
in 1572. Until 1945 the Marienkirche was the largest Protestant place of worship of the world. Today
church has 26 inside pillars, 7 gates and 37 huge windows.
Construction ended in the year 1502, when the last brick was added by Henryk Hetzel on Thursday,
July 28, 1502 at 4 in the afternoon after 159 years of construction. In 1529, Dominican monk
Pankracy Klemme opened the church for Lutherans and during next 43 years Catholic masses were
conducted at the high altar and Protestant masses at St. Nicolas altar. Catholics lost the church at last
in 1572. Until 1945 the Marienkirche was the largest Protestant place of worship of the world. Today
church has 26 inside pillars, 7 gates and 37 huge windows.
In the Second World War, the Marienkirche was heavily damaged by Allied bombing and then
completely ruined by Red Army looting in March, 1945. 40 per cent of the art treasures were
destroyed. Its wooden construction burned and collapsed and all of the windows were destroyed and
only one gate was saved. The tower's interior burned out and all the clocks either fell down or melted
in fires. Soviet soldiers devasatated the surviving art. Some was fortunately hidden in 1944 and
survived the war. The reconstruction of the church took place in 1956
completely ruined by Red Army looting in March, 1945. 40 per cent of the art treasures were
destroyed. Its wooden construction burned and collapsed and all of the windows were destroyed and
only one gate was saved. The tower's interior burned out and all the clocks either fell down or melted
in fires. Soviet soldiers devasatated the surviving art. Some was fortunately hidden in 1944 and
survived the war. The reconstruction of the church took place in 1956
In 1473, Paul Beneke gave German painter Hans Memling's painting "The Last Judgement"
(Jüngstes Gericht) to the church. Napoleon stole the famous Memling Triptychon and put it in the
Louvre. Germany later recovered it and restored it to Danzig. However, in the massive Red Army
looting after the Second World War, the work of art was pilfered and whisked off to the St.
Petersburg Eremitage. It is now again in Danzig. Marienkirche (St. Mary church, St. Marien) in
Danzig is the largest brick church in Europe.
(Jüngstes Gericht) to the church. Napoleon stole the famous Memling Triptychon and put it in the
Louvre. Germany later recovered it and restored it to Danzig. However, in the massive Red Army
looting after the Second World War, the work of art was pilfered and whisked off to the St.
Petersburg Eremitage. It is now again in Danzig. Marienkirche (St. Mary church, St. Marien) in
Danzig is the largest brick church in Europe.
The Bells of St. Mary