850 Years St. Nicholas Church Leipzig

Second Festive Week
from 4th to 11th October 2015, including:
6 th October 2015
8 p.m. . Zeitgeschichtliches Forum
Showing of the film “Nikolaikirche”,
with accompanying programme
9 th to 11th October 2015:
National Networking Meeting of Peace Prayer Groups
9 th October 2015
5 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Peace Prayers on the “Day of the Peaceful Revolution”
followed by “Rede zur Demokratie”
(Address on Democracy)
10 th October 2015
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Medienstiftung Leipzig
Symposium (Foundation for the “Peaceful Revolution”,
parish members, national networking groups)
31st October 2015
5 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Closing concert of the series “Orgelherbst”
(organ music for the autumn)
6th December 2015
10 a.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Festive service for the 2nd of Advent and marking the end of
the anniversary celebrations “850 Years St. Nicholas Church”
J. S. Bach: Cantata “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” BWV 62
BachChor an der Nikolaikirche
... Other highlights for you to look forward to throughout
the year of celebrations include
–3performances of the complete motets of J. S. Bach during
church services
– performances of works by various organists of St. Nicholas
Church
– choral concerts given by the BachChor
– exhibition on the Peace Prayers in St. Nicholas Church
Further contact
Pfarramt St. Nikolai (Parish Office)
Nikolaikirchhof 3
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 341 12453814
Fax: + 49 (0) 341 12453829
E-Mail: pfarramt@nikolaikirche-leipzig.de
Internet: www.nikolaikirche-leipzig.de
A number of projects are planned for which we also count on
your support. Please, help us to give shape to our programme of
anniversary events through your donations.
Bank details:
Ev.-Luth. Kirchenbezirk Leipzig
Bank für Kirche und Diakonie – LKG Sachsen
IBAN: DE68 3506 0190 1620 4790 35
BIC: GENO DE D1 DKD
Reference: Nikolai 850
850 Years
St. Nicholas Church Leipzig
Seeking The Good
of The City
Invitation to a Year of
Anniversary Celebrations
from 6 th December 2014
to 6 th December 2015
From 6 th December (St. Nicholas Day) 2014 until
6 th December 2015 the City and Parish Church of
St. Nicholas will be celebrating its 850 th anniversary.
The motto we have chosen for our year of celebration is
based on a verse from the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah:
“Seek the welfare of the city and pray to the Lord on its
behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” 1
Just as for the contemporaries of Jeremiah who were
encouraged to actively shape, promote and enhance the
cities in which they lived, these words still today serve as a
guiding principle for the members of St. Nicholas Church
to seek the common good of the city.
In this spirit we would like to welcome both the people of
Leipzig and those from further afield to visit our church
and join in the events surrounding our year of celebration.
In 1165 the town of Leipzig was granted city and market privileges by Margrave Otto of Meissen, and the original Roma­
nesque basilica of St. Nicholas Church goes back to this time.
Its remains are still to be seen on the west side of the building.
Over the centuries significant impulses have time and again
emanated from St. Nicholas Church, testimonies of faith which
continue to inspire up to the present day:
1539: the first official Protestant service to be held in Leipzig,
thereby heralding the Reformation
1723: official inauguration of Johann Sebastian Bach as Director
musices of the City of Leipzig, with first performances of many
of his works taking place in St. Nicholas Church
1989: crucial centre of the movement leading to the Peaceful
Revolution which was to change the face of Europe
English Standard Version, Jeremiah 29:7
1
Selected Highlights from Our Anniversary Year Celebrating
“850 Years St. Nicholas Church”
6th December 2014
10 a.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Festive service marking the opening of the anniversary
celebrations “850 Years St. Nicholas Church”
J. S. Bach: Cantata “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” BWV 61
Cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra
BachChor an der Nikolaikirche
5 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Festive concert
Benjamin Britten: “Saint Nicolas” (1948)
Cantata for tenor, choir, children’s choir and orchestra
Admission free
10 th March 2015
7 p.m.
Opening of the “Nikolaitana” exhibition
in the University Library
The “Nikolaitana” exhibition will be open from 11 th March
until 14 th June 2015 in the Leipzig University Library
12th March 2015
7 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Presentation of the book
“Nikolaikirche” as part of the Leipzig Book Fair
12th May 2015
6 p.m. . Stadtgeschichtliches Museum
Exhibition opening “Geschichte der Nikolaikirche”
(History of St. Nicholas Church)
This exhibition will remain open until 19 th July 2015
First Festive Week
from 17 th to 24th May 2015, including:
23rd May 2015 . Nikolaikirchhof
St. Nicholas Parish Fête
with the participation of all other Leipzig parishes,
including children’s musical and various guided tours
From 1st to 7 th June 2015
City Festival to commemorate “1000 Years Leipzig”
3 rd June 2015
6 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Leipzig Churches Open Night
2015 Bach Festival, including:
12 th June 2015
5 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Opening Concert of the Bach Festival
Musical direction: Georg Christoph Biller, Thomaskantor
1st August 2015
5 p.m. . St. Nicholas Church
Opening of the concert series “Orgelherbst”
(organ music for the autumn)
This series of organ recitals takes place in St. Nicholas Church
from 1st August to 31st October every Saturday at 5 p.m.