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From Palm Sunday to Easter Monday, Fulda Cathedral becomes the center of Holy Week – with festive music and special liturgies.
Fulda – Fulda Cathedral will be the center of Holy Week in the coming days. From Palm Sunday to Easter Monday, Bishop Dr. Michael Gerber and Auxiliary Bishop Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Diez the central church services of the church year – accompanied by festive music with the cathedral choir, the Youth Cathedral Choir under the direction of cathedral music director Franz-Peter Huber, cathedral orchestra and cathedral organist Max Deisenroth.
Easter in Fulda: liturgy and festive music in the cathedral
The liturgies of these days condense the center of the Christian faith: Jesus' journey through suffering and death to the resurrection. Impressive liturgical symbols are combined with a diverse musical performance by choir, orchestra and organ.
Palm Sunday kicked off on Sunday (March 29th) at 10 a.m. The liturgy began in St. Michael's Church with the blessing of the palm branches. From there a procession with bouquets of palms moved to the cathedral, where Bishop Gerber knocked on the portal with a liturgical gavel. The Youth Cathedral Choir as well as cathedral organist Deisenroth and cantor Dorina Reichling provided the music for the celebration.
On Tuesday (March 31st) the Chrism Mass followed at 11 a.m. with the consecration of the Holy Oils. It brought together priests, deacons and believers from across the diocese. In the liturgy, the priests renew their promises of ordination, and the oils for the administration of the sacraments are consecrated throughout the year.
The Last Supper Mass takes place on Maundy Thursday (April 2nd) at 7:30 p.m. The liturgy includes foot washing and a procession of gifts. The Blessed Sacrament is then transferred to St. Michael's Church in a procession, after which the believers return to the cathedral in silence. The cathedral choir takes over the musical arrangement.
On Good Friday (April 3rd) the “Celebration of the Suffering and Death of Christ” will be celebrated in Fulda Cathedral at 3 p.m. The focus is on the proclamation of the Passion, the great intercessions and the veneration of the cross.
Easter Vigil and Pontifical Mass at Easter in Fulda Cathedral
In the early hours of Easter Sunday (April 5th) the Easter Vigil begins at 5 a.m. as the highlight of the church year. The celebration starts with the Easter fire in front of the cathedral and the lighting of the Easter candle. In the ensuing light ceremony, the “Lumen Christi” is carried into the initially dark cathedral. In addition to the literal liturgy, the baptismal celebration with the Litany of All Saints and the renewal of the baptismal promise are also among the defining elements of the night.
At 10 a.m. the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord will be celebrated in a pontifical mass in Fulda Cathedral. The cathedral choir and cathedral orchestra as well as cathedral organist Deisenroth will perform, among other things, Michael Haydn's “Missa Sancti Joannis Nepomuceni”. At the end of the celebration, Bishop Gerber gives the apostolic blessing.
The Holy Week ends with a pontifical mass on Easter Monday (April 6th) at 10 a.m. with Auxiliary Bishop Karlheinz Diez. The focus of the Gospel of the Emmaus Disciples is on the experience of recognizing Christ anew while traveling together. The Youth Cathedral Choir and organist Deisenroth provide the music for the celebration.
There will be a lot to experience in front of the cathedral again in summer: For example, a new musical project by Spotlight and bath salt comedian Henni Nachtsheim will be performed.
