A unique location within Munich’s Olympic Park has recently been added to the Bavarian List of Monuments: the hermitage of Father Timofej. This new status is also intended to help with the reconstruction of his burnt-down church.
A Hermitage with a Rich History in Munich
In Munich’s Olympic Park, there is a place that has nothing to do with sports but a great deal to do with Munich’s post-war history: the former hermitage of Father Timofej. Today, it is a significant attraction, and it has now been officially recognized and included in the Bavarian List of Monuments.
Timofej and Natascha: Building a Home from War Rubble
Timofei Wassiljewitsch Prochorow, as he was fully named, fled Russia and arrived in Munich in 1952. With his partner Natascha, he built a hut and a small chapel next to the rubble heap at Oberwiesenfeld. From these ruins, a house and a larger church later emerged.
Olympic Equestrian Facilities Relocated for the Hermit
The hermit consistently claimed he acted on visions and at the behest of the Mother of God. Initially, he did not have building permits, but he remained. When the facilities for the Olympic Games were built, plans were even altered for his sake, and the equestrian facilities were moved to the east of Munich. Timofej passed away in 2004.
Heritage Status for a “Small Biotope”
His hermitage, a green oasis, still exists today. It, along with its garden, was designated a monument due to its historical significance, explained General Conservator Mathias Pfeil of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation. He noted that after the war, a man created a small biotope in a place of “pure destruction,” and “prevailed against everything.” He “formed his universe, and it didn’t disappear – that’s every person’s dream.”
Chocolate Wrappers for the Church?
The church – known as the East-West Peace Church – unfortunately burned down three years ago. It is planned to be rebuilt as faithfully as possible to the original. A fortunate circumstance was that it had been digitally surveyed previously, providing a model of the building.
How the interior will look remains to be seen. The church was filled with images, plastic flowers, candles, and devotional objects of all kinds. The ceiling glittered silver: Father Timofej had attached aluminum foil and chocolate wrappers there. Whether the latter will be included in the new building is, according to former Mayor Christian Ude, “a controversial question” that will be decided in close consultation with monument protection authorities.
Reconstruction Funded by Donations and a “Treasure”
The reconstruction also raises the question of whether the church’s interior should look as it would in a new building today, or if an effort should be made to “revive as many historical memories as possible.” Construction is scheduled to begin next year.
The new building will be financed partly by money from the fire insurance and partly by a small “treasure”: banknotes and coins worth approximately 6,000 Euros found in the fire ruins. Additionally, former Mayor Christian Ude (SPD), who is advocating for the reconstruction, hopes to raise another 140,000 Euros through donations. He stated that there is great willingness to donate, and thanks to the monument status, donation receipts can now be issued.
Protection for the Future
Furthermore, inclusion in the list offers protection and is therefore a “foundation for the future,” rejoiced Elena Keck, the deputy chairwoman of the “East-West Peace Garden” association. Originally from Kazakhstan, she associates the hermitage with a feeling of home, recalling that it looked similar to her grandfather’s home.
Currently, visitors to the Tollwood Festival often turn off from the bustling festival grounds into the quiet oasis created by Father Timofej. “You don’t have to believe in the Marian vision to recognize the spirituality that is there and what an attraction it is,” said Mayor Dominik Krause (Greens).
Hope for a Royal Visit
Queen Silvia of Sweden has also visited the site several times – the first time in 1972, when she was not yet queen but an Olympic hostess. Elena Keck hopes she might return, and already has an idea: the royal visitor could plant a tree on the occasion.
Source: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/neue-kirche-fuer-alte-einsiedelei-im-muenchner-olympiapark,VPXzmXb
