The Circle of Friends sponsors the annual KinderDomBauhütte/Museum education in Naumburg and Merseburg.
2024
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Promotion of scientific research into medieval manuscripts in the archives in Naumburg and Zeitz
The holdings of the Naumburg Cathedral Abbey Archive, the Naumburg Cathedral Abbey Library and the Zeitz Abbey Library are among the most important in Saxony-Anhalt in terms of cultural history. They are of international standing. The written documents collected here (charters, copy books, records, pamphlets, incunabula, etc.) represent a centrepiece of Saxony-Anhalt's historical heritage.
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Promotion of the colloquium volume "Church utilisation and monument preservation in the World Heritage Site - a contradiction?"
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Promotion of the Merseburg Organ Festival
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Promotion of musical culture in Naumburg Cathedral
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Improving the acoustics in Naumburg Cathedral
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Promotion of the library initiative in Zeitz
2023
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Promotion of the Literature Days in Zeitz
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Work on the epitaph in the side aisle of Merseburg Cathedral
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Promotion of musical life in Naumburg Cathedral
2022
Redesign of the lighting in Naumburg Cathedral
2021
Restoration and redesign of the chapter fountain on the cathedral square in Merseburg
Since 2002, the revitalisation of the cathedral and castle ensemble has been an important concern of the Vereinigte Domstifter with its partners, the Saalekreis district and the city of Merseburg. Numerous projects have been realised in the meantime.
As part of the thousandth anniversary year of the Ottonian cathedral consecration in 2021, the fountain on the cathedral square, which has been dormant for around 100 years, is to be brought back into use. The cathedral fountain was built by the Merseburg cathedral chapter and is first documented in 1515. It served as a water supply for the cathedral, the cathedral gymnasium and the neighbouring curiae. The sandstone surround was built in 1763 and a metal cover and crown were added in 1933. The fountain was sealed in 1925/26 and has not been used since then.
The aim is to reuse the well by means of an outlet utilising the water available. To this end, a new basin is to be constructed adjacent to the old well, which will contain an overflow that will channel the water back into the well. The old water pipes need to be replaced and a pump installed. The area around the fountain needs to be remodelled with an outlet basin, planting and benches. The old centrepiece from the 1930s is to be reinterpreted by a modern artist. Most of the work will be carried out on site.
Press reviews
Replacement of the loudspeaker system in Merseburg Cathedral
Corona-related change in the input situation
in Naumburg Cathedral
2020
Exhibition "Uta meets Nina"
In his exhibition "Uta meets Nina", renowned portrait photographer Jürgen Sieker embarks on a fascinating journey through five millennia of art history. In the Marienkirche at Naumburg Cathedral, he places the masterpieces of the Naumburg Master in an exciting dialogue with sculptures from all over the world and portraits of celebrities.
Sieker's masterful photography brings the stone figures of Naumburg Cathedral to life. Their expressive faces reflect emotions and stories, that have fascinated over the centuries. Through the juxtaposition with contemporary personalities from the world of politics, Culture and sport parallels and contrasts become visible, that make you think.
At the same time, the exhibition focuses on the outstanding artistic quality of the Naumburg sculptures. Sieker's camera captures the fine details and unique expressiveness of the figures, allowing their beauty and significance to shine anew.
"Uta meets Nina" is more than just an exhibition, it is an experience. She invites you, discover art history in a new way and experience the connection between past and present.
Nina Hagen 1991 - Uta von Ballenstedt ca. 1245
Press reviews
Translation of information brochures into English and French
Redesign of the cash desk area in Naumburg Cathedral
2019
Purchase of a manuscript fragment of a Naumburg choir book from around 1500
Between 1903 and 1934, a page of one of the choir books (1500/1504) kept in the Naumburg Cathedral Abbey Library was removed from the manuscript under hitherto unexplained circumstances and ended up in private hands. It has now been reacquired by the United Cathedral Fathers ahead of a planned auction at Sotheby's auction house in London. The richly decorated single leaf made of parchment (calfskin) shows a magnificent initial depicting the feast of Purificatio Mariae (Purification of Mary) on the 40th day after Christmas. According to a Jewish rite, Mary had to offer a purification sacrifice consisting of two doves after giving birth. The prophet Simeon holds the infant Jesus in his hands and recognises the Messiah in him. The surrounding vine ornamentation shows, among other things, a hunter chasing a bear. The acquisition of this precious single sheet was made possible by funding from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Vereinigten Domstifter e.V..
Press reviews
Lighting concept in the nave of Merseburg Cathedral
Daniel Zerlang-Rösch's Offenbach-based company Lichtkonzepte was commissioned with the lighting concept.
2018
Epitaph of Julius Kragen
Thanks to financial support totalling 10,000 euros from the Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Vereinigten Domstifter e.V., a historically valuable epitaph of the von Kragen family in the vestibule of Merseburg Cathedral has been restored. The skilfully cast bronze epitaph has two oval portraits made of sheet copper (late 17th century) and weighs 295 kilograms. The Berlin metal restoration workshop Haber & Brandner undertook the expert work. After manual cleaning and removal of stubborn incrustations, even the golden inlays in the engraved lettering became visible again. The blackened portraits of Major von Kragen and his wife have been uncovered and given a layer of varnish to strengthen them.
2017
On the occasion of the town's 1,000th anniversary in 1967, St Michael's Church in Zeitz underwent extensive restoration work under the direction of the monument preservation authorities. At that time, the plaster and colour of the interior were renewed. The walls were painted white, the ribs grey and the woodwork grey/green/gold. The medieval altar block in the high choir was removed, the choir was levelled to the same height as the crossing and an organ was installed in place of the altar. The windows in the east were designed by the Dresden artist Hermann Naumann. The former central aisle was eliminated and the floors were replaced with brick and red-coloured concrete slabs.
Now, around 2011, 50 years later, large parts of the room appeared squat and gloomy. Of course, the technical equipment, especially the lighting, was far outdated. But the deep west gallery also formed dark zones structurally, which radiated into the room.
In 2011, another extensive restoration process will begin.
Regine Hartkopf, cathedral architect of the Vereinigte Domstifter, writes in an essay:
"At the beginning of my intensive involvement with St Michael's Church around 2011, the building presented a less than hopeful picture. How could a viable concept for the restoration and organisation of the space be found?
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Thus began a long process of working together with the congregation, the church leadership, the conservation authorities and, of course, the client, the Vereinigte Domstifter.
Looking back, the idea behind the new concept can be described very simply. The overall concept rests on three pillars:
Light - colour - inner order.
The basis was the desire to give the space back something light and inviting, while at the same time strengthening its sacredness.
In order to realise this theoretical wish, the first joint decision was to return a painting of Christus Salvator by Lucas Cranach the Elder to the church interior.
2016
Restoration - Relief of St George at Merseburg Cathedral
Equity for funding application for the restoration of St Michael's Church in Zeitz
2015
Restoration of the Lindenau epitaph in the vestibule of Merseburg Cathedral
2014
Bishop's Chapel in Merseburg Cathedral
Bishop Thilo was buried in the bishop's chapel in the northern transept of Merseburg Cathedral, which he had splendidly decorated. His tomb (tumba) and an epitaph come from the famous workshop of Peter Vischer in Nuremberg.
Thilo von Trotha was born in 1443. After studying at the universities of Leipzig, Perugia and Rome, he became Provost of Magdeburg Cathedral at the age of twenty and Bishop of Merseburg at the age of thirty. He held this office for 48 years until his death in 1514.
He succeeded in buying up many noble estates and intensifying the cultivation of the bishop's estates, e.g. by creating ponds. All of this was flanked by an intensive expansion of the written administration and the enlargement of the bishop's chancellery. Bishop Thilo maintained a good relationship with the neighbouring Wettin dynasty, who had always sought to curtail the rights of the small Merseburg bishopric. His successful policy ultimately found expression in the magnificent new buildings and conversions of the castle, cathedral and Merseburg chapter house, which still characterise the silhouette of Merseburg today.
He is rightly one of the most famous figures in Merseburg's history. In 2014, his work provided the occasion to dedicate the special exhibition "Thilo von Trotha - Merseburg's legendary prince of the church" to him. The Circle of Friends of the United Cathedral Foundations helped with the restoration of the bishop's chapel with a donation on the occasion of this exhibition.
Dr Gerd and Ingrid Honymus, founders of the Honymus Foundation and members of the circle of friends, supported the restoration work with a further donation.
The text was compiled from information provided by the Vereinigte Domstifter.
2013
Epitaph of Florentina Cregelia Baroness von Zech
The epitaph of Florentina Cregelia Baroness von Zech (died 1728), together with that of her husband Ludwig Adolph Baron von Zech, is one of the most important Baroque monuments in Merseburg Cathedral. In addition to an inscription panel (antiqua) in pillar aedicules, it shows free-standing figures on the sides. These are Caritas (Love) and Spes (Hope), which seems reminiscent of St Magdalene by Bernini in Siena. The epitaph is crowned by an angel holding a portrait of the deceased. The figure decoration shows a woman's mask and drapery as well as weeping angels.
The work is generally attributed to Johann Jakob Hoppenhaupt from the traditional Merseburg sculptor family Hoppenhaupt.
As part of the restoration of the bishop's chapel, it was removed from its original location (where it covered a medieval epitaph) and restored by Elke Müller (Halle/Saale) and Friedhelm Wittchen (Naumburg). In 2018, the epitaph was re-hung in its new location in the baptistery of Merseburg Cathedral.
Source: Peter Ramm, Baroque in Merseburg. Johann Michel Hoppenhaupt (1685-1751) and his time. Catalogue for the commemorative exhibition at the Merseburg Museum (Merseburger Land. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Kultur des Kreises Merseburg, Sonderheft 22), Merseburg [1988], p. 95.
Tympanum on the north portal of Merseburg Cathedral
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