Since we didn't have any readers today, Susan Bratcher (one of the missionaries here in Hildesheim) took us on a walking tour of Hildesheim—which is celebrating its 1200-year anniversary, but the way. Here are some of the highlights of that fantastic tour.

First, we went to St. Michaelis Ev.-Lutheran Church.

Then we visited the Mariendom Catholic Church. It houses the oldest and largest (6 meters in diameter) candle chandelier (it was placed in the church in 1061). Bernward's doors, which are 4.72 meters tall (from the year 1015) is divided into 4 equal sets of panels that tell the biblical story from creation to Jesus' ascension.

From there we walked to the Markt in the center of the city, where we ate lunch (bratwurst and french fries smothered with ketchup and mayo—yum!). Here are a couple of shots from the market. All of this had to be rebuilt after WWII. Where possible, they used the same techniques of the original builders. The building you see in the first picture has no nails in it; instead, there are 7000 or so wooden pegs/dowels holding it together. And, yes, the upper floors are larger in sq. footage than the lower ones. :)

Then, before heading back to Gemeinde Christi, we stopped by St. Andreas Church. The citizens planned the dimensions of this cathedral, rather than architects. It's a huge structure; the tower (added in 1503) is 114 meters high (the Statue of Liberty is 93 meters high, by comparison). In 1038, the body of Bishop Godehard was placed in this church. Like the others, it was destroyed in WWII, but rebuilt between 1966 and 1965, the last to be rebuilt after bombing.

St. Andreas Church