The Legend of the Rose: St Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church in Hildesheim: UNESCO Culture Sector

The cathedral is the pride of the town and is inscribed as World Heritage. It was originally built in 872, and many artworks from that time still remain inside. This chandelier represents "the New Jerusalem" as written in the bible, a realm where the innocent live after the Last Judgement. The "Pillar of Christ" is 4.7 meters high and made of bronze. Reliefs on the pillar depict all of the miracles of Jesus in a spiral from the bottom to the top. Jesus warning his 12 disciples of forthcoming events. Jesus stretching his hand out to heal the sick.

A wild rose tree grows in the church courtyard. 15 meters tall, it is believed to be the oldest wild rose tree in the world. The tree was blooming here even before the church was built. There is a legend about this wild rose. Once upon a time, a king while out hunting lost a sacred relic containing a lock of St. Mary’s hair. His men looked everywhere and finally found it in the forest, hanging on a wild rose tree. The king thanked God and built a cathedral where the rose tree stood.

In March 1945, a crisis threatening the tree’s survival occurred. The town was bombed during an air-raid which left the cathedral severely damaged. The tree was buried under the debris. Rebuilding the cathedral seemed an almost impossible task until the branches emerged from the debris and beautiful roses bloomed. The roses brought hope to the people and encouraged them not only to rebuild the cathedral but also the whole town. Since then, this tree has been carefully protected and maintained by authorised caretakers to this day.

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Emerging from the ravages of war, a new legend was born and still blooms here in Hildesheim.