BRANDENBURG 2024
April 17th-21st 2024
Service of prayer, Memorial Concert and Conference to honor the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fr Max Josef Metzger (1887-1944)
April 17th-21st 2024
Service of prayer, Memorial Concert and Conference to honor the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fr Max Josef Metzger (1887-1944)
At 3.26pm on April 17th 2024, a small group of about 30 people will gather at the execution hall of the Brandenburg Görden Prison, a penal institution situated about 90 kilometers west of the German capitol of Berlin. The place where they will gather had a notorious reputation, imprisoning victims of the Nazi dictatorship during World War II. The prisoners (of whom 60% were incarcerated for political reasons) were of varied European origin- from France, Belgium and Czech as well as from all parts of Germany. The conditions were inhuman with programs of sterilization and castration, long term detention and finally execution. It was also the site of the cruel euthanasia of thousands of handicapped and disabled persons.
Brandenburg Görden Prison
In 2024, among those gathering will be representatives of the main German churches, Catholic and Lutheran, local pastors of churches and fellowships, as well as some overseas guests and leaders of peace movements. In addition, there will be some local political figures, all who have come to pay tribute to the deceased. They will be gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of a Catholic priest who was executed 80 years previously on April 17th, 1944 at the same time of 3.26 pm. A flute will be heard in the walls of the prison, imitating the birdsong beloved of this priest and martyr, while a solo singer will sing a simple hymn called ' Alleluia'.
the 'alleluia' hymn
The words of the hymn will be those of Fr Max, written just about a week before his execution. They were written in celebration of Easter which had just passed on April 9th and had been given by the priest to the Prison Chaplain Fr Peter Buchholz on April 12th 1944. Both The Chaplain and the priest were able to share the hymn of Easter joy together. Years later the Pastor remarked that normally a pastor gives words of consolation to a prisoner. In this case, he felt he had been given consolation by the faith of the prisoner. The words he wrote declared that death was not to be feared and that light and darkness must vanish as the Easter sun has risen. The service will be livestreamed and churches will be asked to join a peal of bells across the Country at 4pm to remember Fr Max and his legacy and all those who were needlessly martyred for their beliefs in the Wartime.
Death! Where has your power gone? Prince of Hell how small you are! All darkness must disperse and Shine before the Easter sun!
‘Tod! Wo ist dein’ Macht geblieben?
Höllenfürst wie bist du klein!
Alles Dunkel muß zerstieben Vor der Ostersonne Schein!'
Brandenburg memorial and concert
Days later a group of young and old, church and political leaders will make their way along so called ‘Max Josef Metzger Strasse’ back to the Prison to attend a concert. A Choir and musicians will then present for the first time a choral work – an oratorio which will contain 28 texts written by the same prisoner with many written in the Prison itself while he was incarcerated.
The final chorus of this work will have the same words of Christian triumph he wrote just days before his execution – the ‘Alleluia’.
After the chorus is sung, now an fully harmonized orchestral setting with strings, wind and continuo. The plaque which has been on display will be removed and placed as a memorial in a Church in the City of Brandenburg.
The final chorus of this work will have the same words of Christian triumph he wrote just days before his execution – the ‘Alleluia’.
After the chorus is sung, now an fully harmonized orchestral setting with strings, wind and continuo. The plaque which has been on display will be removed and placed as a memorial in a Church in the City of Brandenburg.
the brandenburg 2024 conference and gaTHERING.
St Hedwig's Cemetery Belin
Fr. Max was initially laid to rest in the Brandenburg City Cemetery on Karl Sachs Straße with a service officiated by Chaplain Jochmann. It was said that the day was dark and gloomy, but as the body was laid in the grave the sun burst out. Over a year later, on September 18, 1945, the body was transferred to St. Hedwig’s Cemetery in Berlin. There his life was celebrated with over 1,000 people present. The prison chaplain who had been with Fr. Max in his final week gave the eulogy; Protestant Pastor Horn gave some words of remembrance on behalf of the Protestant community present. Previously, the political party CDU had given two memorial services in his honor at St. Joseph’s Church in Wadding and in the Mercedes Palast Cinema. Finally on April 27, 1968, Fr. Metzger’s body was re-interred in the graveyard in Meitingen, the home of his Christ the King Community.
THE gathering
'Brandenburg 2024' aims to recall some of these events and then to celebrate the legacy and influence of Fr Max Josef Metzger for today, 80 years after his execution. It will aim to bring together individuals and groups who have been inspired by the life of Metzger and who will hear talks from experts who understand this legacy. We plan to include Church leaders and local churches as well as political representatives in this special time to learn together and be inspired by the martyrdom of Fr Max.
