When a church finally dies.

Today was another cold and rainy one, but thankfully, most of my time was spent indoors—wandering through museums and churches. Despite the weather, I still managed to walk 7 miles, bringing my total to 36 miles in just 4 days.

As I did yesterday, I mapped out my destinations on Google Maps and made my way through them in order. Since many of the museum photos would be meaningless without context, I spent much of my late afternoon and evening meticulously organizing them into files on my Facebook account—documenting each piece along the way.

Now, whether it’s a musical manuscript from Egypt, a Coptic church father, a painting by Paul Cézanne, or a Celtic helmet, the pictures are a visual record of today’s journey—click through to explore with me!

MUSEUMS

• Altes Museum

• Neues

• Old National Galerie - 3 Museums in one.

CHURCHES

• St. Marienkirche - Redbrick Gothic Protestant Church

• Parochialkirche - the first Calvinist Church in Berlin

• Friedrichswerdersche Kirche - the first Neo-Gothic church built in Berlin. It was designed by architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, better known for his Neoclassical architecture. His artwork is displayed in the church.

Despite the awful weather and the added layer of caution due to COVID, the greeters, security, and attendants at the museums and churches were exceptionally kind and welcoming.

Berlin could easily be called the city of great church buildings—but not of churches. The vibrant days of Luther and the Reformers feel like a distant memory, and many of these once-thriving places of worship now serve as little more than echo chambers for the last few attendees. Nowhere was this more evident than at my final stop—a grand Neo-Gothic church, no longer a house of worship, but a museum showcasing the artwork of its architect.

Buildings are good, but Jesus is better.

A grand, ornate church without passionate followers of Christ is a haunting sight—one that both mocks us and grieves the heart of God.

That said, it was still a day rich with discovery and learning. Below are a few of my favorite moments from today's journey. For context and commentary, be sure to check the links above.