Between rusty steel, lush greenery, and subtropical heat, laughter, tears, kisses, and 27 celebrations of love took place this Saturday in the "paradise" of the Völklingen Ironworks. This was made possible by the #simplymarry campaign of the Evangelical Church in Germany, in which the Evangelical Reconciliation Church Community Völklingen (in cooperation with the World Heritage Site) participated.
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BU Burg (4): The journey to the wedding venue led through a charming backdrop of primeval forest and industrial culture
BU Burg + (8): Pastor Horst Gaevert (l.) with the Burg couple during and after the ceremony
BU Burg (5): The kiss must not be missing at the end
BU Singh (2+3): Some couples came as a pair, others brought guests, like the Singh couple from Saarbrücken, here at the ceremony with Pastor Ira Köhler
Photos: evks/Eulenstein
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Rieke Eulenstein
Public Relations
Evangelical Church District on the Saar
Goethestraße 29+31, 66538 Neunkirchen (Saar)
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Mail: rieke.eulenstein@evks.de
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Protestant campaign #justgetmarried at the Völklinger Hütte brings God's blessing
Between blast furnaces and jungle: 27 couples say "I do" in "paradise"
Völklingen. Beneath the "King Kong" statue in the "Paradise" of the Völklingen World Heritage Site, in the shade of pavilions and greenery, numerous people are gathered this Saturday. Some are festively dressed in suits and wedding gowns, others – given the subtropical temperatures – dressed lightly for summer. Some couples are accompanied by a number of guests, others intentionally just the two of them. They all have one thing in common: On this day, they will place their love under God's blessing. Not in a church, but in the midst of a Saarland cultural heritage site. This is made possible by the #justmarry action, to which the Protestant Church in the Völklingen region, in cooperation with the Völklinger Hütte, has invited.
Susanne and Günter Burg from Sitterswald on the Upper Saar are also waiting here for their blessing. They are a bit excited about what awaits them. They did not have much time to prepare. Only the day before, Günter Burg happened to hear about the event on the radio. "And because I know that my wife likes special things that are extraordinary," he suggested that they could take this as an occasion to have a church wedding. They have actually been married for a long time.
Günter and Susanne, now 75 and 62 years old, found each other later in life; for both, it is their second marriage. However, 19 years ago, a second church wedding was out of the question for various reasons immediately after the civil ceremony. That is why the couple, who describe themselves as religious but now distanced from the church, say the event is “a good opportunity to make up for what we missed.” Now they are sitting in the "Café Paradies," having just bought a small bridal bouquet for their wedding at a stall.
The Burgs are among several thousand couples who, during the last weekend of June, say their vows or place their love under God's blessing as part of the #justmarry campaign by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). The concept: a blessing or wedding that is very accessible for couples who do not feel addressed by the traditional church offerings. The campaign offers them a compact, very personal format in a special location. And: everyone who wishes can receive a blessing, regardless of marital status or religious affiliation, because "God's blessing is for everyone."
This is also emphasized by the Saarland organizer, Pastor Klaus Köhler from the Reconciliation Church Congregation. In Völklingen, most of the ultimately 27 couples registered in advance for their blessing or wedding at the World Heritage site. There were a few cancellations, but also several couples who spontaneously made their way to "Paradise" despite the heat, Köhler knows. Half of them chose a church wedding, the other half opted for God's blessing, for example on their wedding anniversary. A team of clergy and numerous volunteers ensures that everything runs smoothly on the hut site and that everyone is supplied with cold drinks. In the "Café Paradise," guests can refresh themselves while waiting or toast to love with piccolo sparkling wine and wedding cake after the ceremony. This is something many cannot do without despite the blazing heat.
At noon, things get serious for Günter and Susanne Burg, earlier than expected. Another couple dropped out, freeing up an earlier appointment at short notice. The path to their wedding location already offers flair. Up and down rusty steel stairs, they walk through areas of untamed nature. The "King Kong" statue is not needed to evoke jungle romance. Upon arriving at the wedding venue, they are greeted by the full charm of Saarland’s industrial culture. In the shadow of blast furnaces and production halls, there is first a conversation with Pastor Horst Gaevert, who will lead the ceremony. How did the spouses meet, what were special milestones in their life together? Pastor Gaevert will highlight a few key points from the conversation in his speech, reflecting on the couple’s relationship.
The ceremony becomes very intimate and close for Günter and Susanne, who have come without guests. Together, they symbolically weave the "band of their love" from three colorful ribbons. Two strands for the couple, connected with God as the third in the union. And of course, the obligatory kiss after the blessing is not to be missed. Like many other couples that day, Günter and Susanne are deeply moved. Tears flow during the closing song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from the loudspeaker. "Such a great initiative to reconnect people who have reservations about the church," they are delighted. That evening, they will also surprise their parents and parents-in-law with wedding photos taken at the Völklinger Hütte.
This is not an isolated opinion. Overall, the feedback from couples and organizers is overwhelmingly positive. Everywhere you see happy, smiling faces. Time and again, there is appreciation and gratitude. Susanne and Oliver Singh from Saarbrücken, who are celebrating their fifth anniversary in the World Heritage site, used the event to celebrate their marriage together with friends, something they were unable to do during the Corona period. An elderly couple is grateful for the time spent together and hopes for many more years with God's blessing.
It was a feat of strength to carry out the event despite the weather, but one that was worth it, say the organizers. "We will still be talking about this event in 20 years," is Völklingen pastor Klaus Köhler certain.
