As varied as our backgrounds and beliefs, most of us undoubtedly share the hope of a peaceful future for all (wo)mankind. Despite interpersonal differences and strife, we all know individuals who exemplify the good in humanity, or recall instances when someone’s unexpected conduct stopped us in our tracks, and made us reflect how we would have reacted in a similar situation.
I experienced one such instance when I first learned about the provenance of the windows at St. Stephen’s Church in Mainz, Germany, in the late 1980s. The building, whose foundations rest on Roman ruins, dates back in its earliest incarnation to the 10th century AD, having since undergone multiple modifications. After vast portions were destroyed by allied bombings in the 1940s, it was restored in the following decades.
I imagine that, in 1973, St. Stephen’s Pastor Klaus Mayer approached world-renowned artist Marc Chagall with some trepidation, with the request to fashion stained-glass windows for the church building, to replace the clear panels mounted temporarily during the postwar years. Russian-born Marc Chagall (1887-1985) had moved to France as a young artist, and had returned to his adopted country in 1948, after fleeing to the United States in 1941, in the wake of the Nazi invasion. I can’t begin to understand what it took for him not only to forgive the German nation for its genocide of millions of his fellow Jews, but to have the grace and greatheartedness to sublimate his sadness and sorrow into some of the most magnificent stained-glass windows ever created.
To bridge not only the chasm between Germans and Jews, but also between Christianity and Judaism, he chose to depict scenes from both the old and the new testaments. Between 1978, when he was 91, and his death in 1985 at the age of 97, nine windows of his design were produced at the studio of Jacques Simon in Reims, and subsequently installed at St. Stephen’s. Following Chagall’s passing, his friend and fellow artist, Charles Marq, continued the project, contributing nineteen additional windows. Whereas his conceptions over time became less pictorial and more abstract, they nonetheless emulated Chagall’s original color scheme and intent.
The exterior of the stately, yet not sumptuous, church does not prepare for the splendor that awaits behind the heavy bronze doors. A deep blue emanates from the windows, suffuses the interior, envelops the visitor in its calming, comforting glow. It draws the eye into the distance, while highlighting other colors and figures embedded in the glass. Since first falling in love with the serene, soothing atmosphere of this space, I have returned time and again, either to contemplate in silence, attend a guided meditation, or enjoy an organ concert. No trip to Germany would be complete without setting foot in it.
Marc Chagall’s life and legacy inspire. If each of us were to put forth even a modest effort to respect, and reach out to, one another, regardless of our religious or political convictions, skin color, age, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, Peace On Earth would not remain a mere utopian wish, but become a true possibility.
Click here for the German version/bitte hier für die deutsche Version klicken:
https://tanjaschimmel.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/friede-auf-erden/
They are beautiful windows, and you express what so many really wish for, not presents but love.
Merry Christmas.
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And a very merry Christmas to you and yours.
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That was really interesting and very beautiful to see those windows from Marc Chagall. I think the idea of letting him do the Christian windows is a very peaceful idea. And by the way, we have a church here in Hamburg, where you can find some more windows from Chagall.
Merry Christmas, kind regards Mitza
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By the time he fashioned those windows in Mainz, he was already well-known for his glass-work,. I have not seen his windows in Hamburg, will have to try to visit them if I ever make it back there.
I hope you are enjoying your Christmas, Mitza.
All the best,
Tanja
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If you ever come here, tell me, I can show them to you. All the best Mitza:)
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That would be great, Mitza. Thank you!
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This is so true Tanja; a humble and decent approach is to realize that everything is part of the whole great. Thank you for your insightful and thoughtful words. Merry Christmas to you and your beloved ones.
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Dear Ira,
Thank you for reminding us that everything and everybody is part of the whole. If only we didn’t forget this truth.
I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the holidays as well.
Warmly,
Tanja
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These glass windows are breathtaking! Merry Christmas, Tanja. 🙂
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I am glad you like them, Nirmala. Happy holidays to you and yours as well.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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Magnificent windows. I hadn’t known about them
A very happy new year to you and your family.
Neil
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I am glad you liked the windows, Neil. I hope you are enjoying the holiday season, and I return my wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Kind regards,
Tanja
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Such beautiful windows and a lovely inspirational post.. thank you Tanja!
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Thank you for visiting the church and gazing at the windows with me, Liz. I wish us all much peace.
Best,
Tanja
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True words. Thank you for this inspirational post and have a wonderful Christmas time, Tanja!
Best, Antje
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I am glad you found my thoughts inspirational, Antje. I hope you are well and are enjoying this festive season.
Kind regards,
Tanja
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Thanks for making us aware of these great stained glass windows.
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Thank you for your interest, Steve. When you are next in the vicinity of Mainz, I hope you will go see them with your own eyes.
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The windows are so beautiful, Tanja! The writing is beautiful Tanja, and what you try to express is so true. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! Hope you’re having a good festive time with your family 🙂
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Sorry for the delayed response, Pooja, your comment fell through the cracks.
I am glad you enjoyed the windows, and hope that your holiday season was very special.
Best,
Tanja
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Don’t worry, Tanja. It was nice with a lot of good food and some rest 🙂 Hope it went well for you too! Happy New Year 🙂
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Good food seems to play a huge role for most of us. 🙂
We try not to allow the holiday stress to rub off, and we had a very relaxing Christmas, thank you.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year to you and your loved ones, Pooja!
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Lovely post and stained glass…thank you!!!
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Thank you, Valerie. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
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We did, thank you!
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A lovely, thoughtful post. I would like to see these windows that inspired such sentiments . X
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Thank you, Cathy. They are not too far away from you! 🙂
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Those windows keep me spellbound. My friend in Germany, Natalie, works in a church. She sent me photos years ago and i remember then thinking how peaceful it must be to work there. 💐🌺🌸
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I hope you will be able to see them in person one day!
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I pray so too. Especially want to see my Natalie’s beautiful eyes light up as we join her.😊
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A wonderful post Tanja, thank you.
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Thank you, Mary. I hope you are well and I wish you a happy and healthy new year!
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So beautiful!
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Thank you, Diane. I wish you and yours a happy and peaceful new year.
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Frohes neues Jahr 2019, Tanja! 🎊 Prost🍻
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Dankeschön, liebe Anna. Auch Dir ein gutes neues Jahr!
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Beautiful post, Tanja. Wishing for Peace On Earth….
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Thank you, Donna. One can’t hope for peace too much. 🙂
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I am encouraged by remarkable people doing remarkable things. Thank you so much for sharing this history, his artistry, and particularly the message of hope and kindness he gave to the world. Beautiful and needed post for the new year. Here’s to a more kind 2019!
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Hear, hear, Shannon! I am all for that.
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Tanja – I learned something new again. I didn’t know that Marc Chagall had done stained glass windows. This is a beautiful and moving post. I love your photos. Thank you for sharing the story. -Jill
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Thank you so much, Jill.
He did them in various places, Jill, but I have only seen them in Mainz so far. I have always loved his artistic creations. When my future husband and I first visited Paris together and attended a performance at the Opéra, we could only afford tickets high up, but our seats were close to the ceiling, which had been painted by him. That was a special treat. 🙂
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What an amazing experience. Art affects everyone differently. My theory is that the pieces that affect us the most, we have soul to soul conversations with.
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I like your theory. 🙂
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Thank you my friend.
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😊
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