Status: 03/19/2023 04:50 a.m
In the late afternoon of today, the victims of the March 9 shooting are being commemorated in Hamburg’s main church of St. Petri. The large Christian churches invite you to a service. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also invited. The congregation announced that it would hold its own funeral service next weekend.
The city of Hamburg does not organize this commemoration. It is the Archdiocese of Hamburg, the North Church and the Working Group of Christian Churches who invite you to the main church of St. Petri at 5 p.m. Hamburg’s Protestant Bishop Kirsten Fehrs is there, as is the Catholic Archbishop Hess. It should be prayed, mourned and the victims of the amoktat should be commemorated. Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) “very much welcomes the commitment of the Christian churches and is taking part,” said his spokesman.
Hesse: “The act of violence shook all of Hamburg”
“I mourn with the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the people who were killed, even if I don’t share their faith. The inhumane act of violence shook the whole of Hamburg deeply and left many people stunned and sad. In this situation, it’s good to stand together and express your concerns and above all to pray together and across denominations for peace and peaceful coexistence,” said Hesse.
“Agitated and still stunned we stand before this killing spree that swept through the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses on March 9th, killing and injuring people in such horrific ways. The city is in mourning. Therefore, space is needed now for our lamentation and compassion To give expression and to find a language for it – with words and gestures. To mourn. To pray. For relief. And especially for consolation,” explained Bishop Kirsten Fehrs.
Commemoration does not replace a funeral service
According to the Christian churches, the commemoration is not a substitute for a funeral service for Jehovah’s Witnesses. That is why Fehrs and Hess would pray as part of an intercession during the commemoration for the victims, the injured, their families and for the helpers, rescuers, police officers and firefighters. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also invited and every member is free to go there.
Jehovah’s Witnesses value solidarity
On Tuesday, the planned service of the major Christian churches caused upset because the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not part of their working group. “Not a single one of the victims or their relatives is involved in these talks, these plans, let alone the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who would certainly like to find a way to carry out a funeral service in their own way, according to their Christian principles,” he said Voiced by Michael Tsifidaris. The spokesman for the faith community has since said that he appreciates the solidarity and sympathy expressed through this commemoration. “However, there will be no official participation by Jehovah’s Witnesses. We want to choose our own form,” said the regional representative.
Jehovah’s Witnesses hold funeral service
“Of course we exchanged ideas, also with the initiators of the service,” said spokesman Michael Tsifidaris in an interview with NDR Info. The community appreciates this form of sympathy, but will soon be holding its own funeral service in order to do justice to the wishes of the relatives and, above all, to commemorate the victims: “We are now in close consultation with the relatives, but I can today We can already say that we will hold a central commemoration event the weekend after next, due to the great interest and the overwhelming sympathy that the population has shown us.” The municipality is very grateful to the city of Hamburg, which is supporting them with the preparatory work, says Tsifidaris. More details would come in the coming days: “We will also find ways for the broader public to participate.” The city wants to put out a condolence book in the town hall for a week from Saturday. There, Hamburg residents can express their sympathy between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. It will later be handed over to the families of the victims. “We really appreciate this gesture,” said the community spokesman.
Appreciation of the police officers?
Far away from the service, consideration is given to paying tribute to the police officers who stopped the gunman very quickly last Thursday without putting on extra protective clothing and at the risk of their lives. The domestic policy spokesman for the CDU, Dennis Gladiator, suggested an honor in the town hall – or on the town hall market.
Rampage on Thursday evening in Alsterdorf
During the shooting on March 9, 35-year-old Philipp F. killed seven people – including an unborn child – and himself on Deelböge Street in the Alsterdorf district. According to the information from Tuesday, there are still six injured people in the hospital, one person is still in mortal danger.
Further information
How did the crime unfold, who are the victims, what do we know about the perpetrator? The authorities have commented on the current status of the investigation for the second time. more
2 mins
Furthermore, one person who was injured during the killing spree is in mortal danger. How is the community dealing with this? 2 mins
While Hamburg’s chief of police, Ralf Martin Meyer, cannot see any mistakes by the weapons authorities, the opposition is demanding clarification. (03/14/2022) more
The “Zeit” reports that the Hamburg police apparently did not read a conspicuous book by the perpetrator. (03/14/2023) more
After the killing spree among Jehovah’s Witnesses, the interior ministers of the SPD-led countries are currently discussing tightening the law. (03/13/2023) more
The strictly religious community has around 170,000 members in Germany. At the center of their teaching is the expectation of the end of the world. more
Tags: shooting Ecumenical commemoration Hamburg today NDR .de News
