The coronation of the Frauenkirche : "A historic day for Dresden"
A report
Thousands of people came to Dresden's Neumarkt on 22 June 2004 – and were overwhelmed. "Their" Frauenkirche had finally been crowned, and its bells tolled for the coronation. A stirring atmosphere thrilled the visitors to the Neumarkt.
There is a sigh of relief at the square in front of the Frauenkirche – the rain clouds are dispersing. A brief shower, a few gusts of wind, and all that’s left is a gentle, lukewarm breeze. "The wind is only allowed to reach a maximum strength of four, that is to say 28 kilometres an hour," building director Burger says in the lead-up, "otherwise the hoisting process will have to be cancelled." But everything is able to go off as planned.
The approximately 60,000 onlookers are gripped with anticipation. Cameras are set up. Dresden locals and many visitors to the city want to be there when "their" Frauenkirche is crowned with the round 15-metre-high construction comprising a cupola and cross after ten years of building. There are only a few minutes to go before the heavy dome is hoisted 80 metres up with a crane.
Meticulously planned hoisting process
5:20pm. Five minutes to go. The hoisting process has been meticulously planned. There is tension on the face of the crane driver. Sharp eyes watch whether he is doing is job correctly or not. The melody of the canon Dona nobis pacem rings out clearly from the stage at the Neumarkt. There is a festive atmosphere. Radio and television broadcasters from all over the world are there with their outside broadcast vans. Tense glances dart from the pre-mounted dome on the ground to the crane, and back, then to the Frauenkirche’s cupola.
It's time. Accompanied by the Saxon Brass Mission, the crane driver steers the crane's arm over the dome – and manoeuvres it with extreme care and concentration towards the church spire. The people on the ground hold their breath. "I had shivers running down my spine the whole time," an 80-year-old lady said afterwards. Some people, particularly the older ones, have tears in their eyes.
All eight bells of the Frauenkirche chime
Up on the roof of the stone lantern, construction workers wait to set up the precious cargo. It takes exactly 15 minutes for the copper dome with its cross to reach the top. The end of the hoisting process is marked by the chiming of all eight bells of the Frauenkirche. Some people begin to clap quietly, the applause increases, and spreads across the square in front of the Frauenkirche.
A symbol of reconciliation
The golden cross of the cupola. It once again characterises Dresden’s skyline. A symbol of the reconciliation between Germans and Britons. Saxony's Premier Milbradt gets to the point in his speech: "Today not only marks the closure of one of this city's wounds. Today marks the closure of one of Europe's wounds." 22 June 2004: a historic day.
(Ilka Nozon, MDR.DE)