EDITH STEIN – A GLITTERING GEM HIDDEN IM CHEMNITZ
This year, the Edith Stein Association, in partnership with the Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenbezirk Chemnitz Arbeitsstelle Kulturhauptstadt, will carry out the project “Edith Stein – a glittering gem hidden in Chemnitz” as part of the celebrations for the European Year of Culture in Chemnitz, which will be inaugurated on January 18, 2025.
https://chemnitz2025.de
Chemnitz, Saxony’s third-largest city, located just 80 km from the state capital Dresden, invites you to discover its cultural wealth under the motto “C’the unseen” – “See the unseen,” which invites visitors to discover people, places, and activities that have not been the focus of tourist attention until now.
Founded in the 11th century, it holds many secrets thanks to its rich history, which includes both periods of great prosperity (textile and mechanical industry) and difficult times after the destruction of World War II. These are unknown facts, places marked by history but not yet fully revealed, as well as people with strong ties to the city.
In our project, we focus on an extraordinary figure who chose Chemnitz as one of his favorite places to stay.
Our heroine, who wants to reveal another “invisible” page in the history of the city of Chemnitz, is none other than Edith Stein, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She came to Chemnitz to visit her uncle, who owned a beautiful house and a pharmacy in a magnificently located building near the market square. There she met her cousins and friends and actively participated in the cultural life of the city.
The focal point of our project is an exhibition dedicated to Edith Stein, which will be open from July 10 to 17, 2025, in the Evangelical Jugendkirche St. Johannis church in Chemnitz. It will trace Edith’s journey, with a particular focus on her time in Chemnitz and her work as a nurse during the First World War in Hranice, Moravia.
The exhibition will be preceded by an opening concert featuring musicians from the Wrocław Opera Trio Versatile, who will perform a medley of Jewish music on July 7 at 7:00 p.m. at St. James’ Church, right next to Chemnitz’s market square.
We sincerely hope that the events we have prepared will enable the residents of Chemnitz and tourists visiting the city to discover the extraordinary personality of Edith Stein and to familiarize themselves with the richness and depth of her legacy and message, which remains highly relevant today.
