Angels – Haiku 2025 #Thursday Doors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
Friedrichswerder Church, Berlin Mitte, Germany. Image credit: Thom Quine | flickr CC

hemmed in on all sides

buffeted, shored up by angles—

and shall not be moved

*

The *featured doors (an image is below) are the iron-clad wings with carved raised reliefs on square panels in the main entrance of Friedrichswerder Church in Berlin Mitte, Germany (circa 1830).

Main Entrance, Friedrichswerder Church, Berlin Mitte. Image credit: Thom Quine | flickr CC

The doors’ reliefs were carved by the Friedrichswerder Church’s architect, the famous Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The doors depict angels in Greek-styled themes of dress and poses.

The bronze statue above the doors is Archangel Michael.

The patterned mosaic style of the facade is due in large part to the original red bricks, which are individually handmade bricks sourced from some 15 miles (24 km) outside Berlin in the 19th century and brought in for the Church’s original construction.

Trivia: 1 & 2: The modern day story of Friedrichswerder Church, Berlin.

After surviving many challenges over the centuries, the Friedrichswerder church building has, in the present century, faced the challenge of high-rise buildings constructed in close proximity to the church.

It is alledged that construction of one of the nearby buildings may have resulted in the Friedrichswerder church building shifting/leaning slightly.

Consequently, the Friedrichswerder church was carefully restored by the Church’s leadership along with public and private support (2012-2019).

Friedrichswerder Church was reopened in 2020 after a “meticulous restoration” of its exterior and interior.

The Friedrichswerder Church currently serves as an extension site for the nearby Berlin Museum.

It showcases the diverse works of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the architect of Friedrichswerder Church, who was also a renowned painter, sculptor, and set designer.

*In a footnote to this story, the restorers and supporters state that the future plans for Friedrichswerder Church include resuming church services.

Additional Fact: Credited with the discovery of the islets of Langerhans, the cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, pathologist and biologist, Paul Langerhans was born in Berlin.

Side view – Friedrichswerder Church, Berlin Mitte. Image credit: Thom Quine | flickr CC
Aerial view Friedrichswerder Church, Berlin: the red-brown building left of center. Image credit: Gary Todd | flickr CC

And for more #Thursday Doors

Visit Dan Antion at No Facilities

Ritva at Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

59 thoughts on “Angels – Haiku 2025 #Thursday Doors”

  3. Great haiku and post. The final photograph showing the church in context is rather alarming, lost in the modern urban landscape, although the building looks pretty chunky and robust.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Wonderful poem, Suzette, and a story with a happy ending. I guess having the Archangel Micheal above your door means “don’t mess” in modern day thinking. I’m glad the church was restored.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you enjoyed the doors Maggie. And thanks for noting the stained glass windows. I forgot to mention they are incredibly the original stained glass windows of this building.
      Have a good one.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Shored by Angels and shall not be moved – breathtaking

    I find it absolutely beautiful that the main entrance of Friedrichswerder Church in Berlin Mitte was sculpted with angels in mind—an homage to the wonder of miracles woven into the history of these celestial beings.

    Equally fascinating is the church’s patterned mosaic façade, shaped by the original handmade red bricks sourced from 15 miles (24 km) outside Berlin in the 19th century—each brick a testament to the craftsmanship of its time.

    And to think, I only just learned that the renowned pathologist and biologist Paul Langerhans was born in Berlin!

    What an incredible journey you’ve taken us on, Poet, with this remarkable cathedral offering on this final Thursday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is very unique I agree that to feature angels on a church facade and the portal no less…is very rare in churches…I like it.

      You are welcome for the journey. A pleasure to share on these special spaces and the impact of their longevity up today.

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  9. A beautiful haiku that depicts main features of the magnificent church and its imposing door. Backstory is quite interesting, Suzette.

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  15. Those large windows are quite striking–they must make the light inside wonderful. And I love the wings framing the arches of the two doors. The rose medallions are a beautiful complement.

    It is too bad they did not leave more space around the church when they built up the city. A problem everywhere as land is at a premium. (K)

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    1. Yes, those windows are beautiful.. You are right, Kerfe. The interior’s photos are beautiful, an elegant setting for the church’s current role as a museum.
      Yes, agreed, space in large Metropolitan areas is limited.

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  19. What a handsome church! Those bricks made by hand? Amazing. To me the whole effect is somewhat woolen; it looks like a fine wool sweater. And so sturdy-looking. I don’t know the architectural terms, but those spires atop the columns — like sharpened pencils! — insist that still we are to look up. It lightens the effects of the immovable. A fitting placement for the indomitable archangel!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love your point of the Church’s bespoke brick facade as somewhat woolen… knitted together. A marvelous way to describe it, Maureen, I agree.

      You are right, I think. The spires do point the church’s image/visage to an even higher realm in many ways/levels.

      Thank you for your always astute and generously thoughtful comments. Blessings to you.

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