Frankfurt is celebrating a very special birthday party on Whitsun: for two days, the motto on and around the Römer is "500 years of the Protestant Church". Mainly on Whit Monday, the celebration will take place on the Römerberg, a place that is a special attraction not only for Frankfurt residents, but also for tourists from all over the world. This location was chosen deliberately, because the whole thing is not just intended to be a "festival for the city" - but a festival for everyone. That is why it is also called: "500 years of Reformation: we celebrate diversity and dialogue". Therefore, the festival is to be celebrated in an open spirit.
Starting on Sunday evening: world premiere of "The King David Report"
The festivities will kick off with the world premiere of the musical theater piece "The King David Report" on Sunday evening in the Heiliggeistkirche at the Dominikanerkloster, Kurt Schumacher-Straße 23, downtown. Professor Ralph Abelein, professor at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, set a book by the system-critical GDR author Stefan Heym from the seventies to music. It is full of contemporary allusions - and ties in with an Old Testament tale. Bernhard Kießig, lecturer for pop and gospel choir and pop piano at the EKHN's Centre for Annunciation, rehearsed the work with singing students from the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, the state gospel jazz choir "Jazz My Soul" and the Kammerphilharmonie Frankfurt. The direction was taken over by Uwe Hausy, consultant for play and theatre at the Centre of Annunciation. The performance begins at 7 p.m., City Dean Dr. Achim Knecht introduces the play and its themes at 6 p.m.
Diversity - at one table
"Coming together at one table" is what Pentecost Monday is all about. To eat together, but also to exchange ideas. Dr. Olaf Lewerenz, pastor for city church work at the Protestant St. Catherine's Church at the Hauptwache and representative of the Protestant Church Frankfurt am Main for the anniversary of the Reformation, reported that there will be about 40 table speakers, who - based on the Lutheran table speeches - will encourage discussion. A broad spectrum is represented, he said, including Professor Roland Kaehlbrandt, chairman of the Polytechnic Society Foundation Frankfurt am Main, travesty star, dance school owner and SPD city councillor Thomas Bäppler-Wolf, or Bäppi la Belle, Frankfurt's mayor Peter Feldmann and church department head Uwe Becker, the Catholic Church is represented, among others, by the Catholic city dean Dr Johannes zu Eltz and Caritas director Gaby Hagmans.
Ecumenical service with church president and city dean
The day will begin at 11 a.m. with an ecumenical service under the motto "At one table" with the church president of the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, Dr. Volker Jung, city dean Dr. Achim Knecht, trombone choirs, Blech Pur, the choir of the Atterberry Multicultural Christian Church and the band Habakuk, plus a special children's program. Lewerenz said that these participants make it clear that this is a festival of diversity, in which the traditional, contemporary, local and international stand side by side.
At lunch, of course, the green sauce should not be missing, "but there are also wraps and much more," announced the festival commissioner. On the Römerberg and the Paulsplatz are the tables and benches. Frank Lehmann, known not only as a stock market moderator, but also as a Hessian veteran and this year one of the Reformation ambassadors, will moderate the lunchtime meal and encourage people to take part in the Luther quiz, the band Habakuk will provide musical accompaniment.
Mystery play, music and discussion
Under the title "God help me", the Dramatische Bühne Frankfurt, under the direction of Thorsten Morawietz, will perform the life of Martin Luther in the style of a medieval mystery play from 1.30 pm. From jazz to soul, from folk to R&B, the music selection of Kaye Ree and the Landesjugendjazz-Orchester, they will be on stage from 2.30 pm. "Believe differently - live together!"- from 3.30 p.m. EKHN church president Jung, Jacob Gutmark, chairman of the regional association of Jewish communities in Hesse and Verena Ben Nichta from the competence centre of Muslim women e.V., Jascha Habek, hrInfo, moderates.
At 4.15 p.m. it is called "Reformation international" - greeting messages from all over the world will be shown live on the LED big screen. The Kanaani Choir from Tanzania will sing in addition. "We bring the Römerberg to the sound" follows, from 17.30 o'clock chorales and gospel songs resound over the festival. Future theses will hit cabaret artist Anton le Goff, alias Maja Wolff, from 18 clock on the Römer. With Luther's chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" - interpreted in all possible styles by the musicians of the festival - the programme draws to a close. The day closes at 7 p.m. with an evening blessing with city dean Dr. Achim Knecht and trombone choir.
The Protestant Academy Frankfurt presents its new house
The festival on the Römerberg is also a good opportunity to visit the new house of the Academy at the Römerberg for the first time. In addition to guided tours, there will also be a Speaker´s Corner, the Junge Schauspiel Frankfurt, under the direction of Martina Droste and Chris Weinheimer, will address the wishes and ideas of young people for the future of Europe under the title "United in peace and freedom.
