The Church of St. Nicholas (also known as Sankt Nicolai) was a Protestant church in Zerbst. The largest church in Anhalt was destroyed in World War II and has remained in ruins ever since.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nikolai_(Zerbst/Anhalt)

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April 4, 2025

Built as a Romanesque basilica in the 12th century from granite blocks, it was one of the first sacred stone buildings east of the Elbe and was the focal point of Zerbst's earliest urban development. Only the south tower of this building has survived.

The construction of a new Gothic hall church began around 1430, also as an expression of the wealth and self-confidence of the citizens during the city's heyday around 1400. The choir was completed in 1446, and the nave in 1486.[1] Around 1440, a stone relief depicting a "Judensau" (a Jewish sow) was attached to a pillar; there is an explanatory plaque and, nearby, a "counter-monument" by Hans-Joachim Prager, which has been standing since 2023.[2] The tower chamber was built between 1476 and 1494. The three stone church spires, destroyed in the Second World War, had been added in 1533/34.[3] The three-aisled Gothic hall church of St. Nicholas was the town's council church and is considered an important work of the Parler school.

Starting at St. Nicholas, the Lutheran Reformation was introduced in Zerbst as early as the early 1520s. The church's medieval furnishings fell victim to an iconoclasm in 1525. In 1573, Wolfgang Amling became pastor of St. Nicholas, and in 1578, superintendent (died 1606). As the leading clergyman of the emerging Anhalt State Church—whose first ordinations took place in St. Nicholas in 1578—he promoted its transition to Calvinism. During this time, Gallus Dreßler worked as a deacon (second preacher) and church musician at St. Nicholas. Anhalt-Zerbst returned to the Lutheran faith in 1646.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nikolai_(Zerbst/Anhalt)

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April 4, 2025

From 1819 to 1827, the church was extensively restored in a historicizing style at the instigation of Duke Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau.[4][5]

In 1840, the church received an organ by Adolph Zuberbier and Friedrich Geibel, which had 37 stops on two manuals and a pedal.[6] In 1929, this organ was replaced by a new instrument by Fleischer & Kindermann with 47 stops on three manuals.[7]

The church was almost completely destroyed in the bombing raid of April 16, 1945. Complete demolition, which had already been approved, was prevented by private individuals, pastors, and monument preservationists. On June 24, 1991, a support association was founded to protect the ruins. Since then, among other things, the north and south towers have been re-roofed, an observation platform has been built on the site of the central tower, and a new bell system has been installed. Restoration of the nave is not planned for the time being.

The ruins are used for concerts and other cultural events.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nikolai_(Zerbst/Anhalt)

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Location: Zerbst/Anhalt, Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

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