St. Stephan's Church (Stephanskirche)

Welcome to the Stephanskirche, or St. Stephan’s Church, perched upon the highest hill in the historic city of Mainz. …

Upon entering the nave, the first thing one notices is the spatial harmony of the hall church design. In a hall church, or 'Hallenkirche,' the nave and the aisles are of approximately the same height, which creates a unified,…

We now approach the focal point of the church: the nine stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. Created between 1978 and 1985, these are the only windows Chagall ever designed for a German church. …

Situated beneath the glow of the Chagall windows, the high altar serves as the liturgical heart of St. Stephan’s. …

Adjacent to the main church lies the Gothic cloister, constructed between 1462 and 1499. This covered walkway once served as the heart of the collegiate foundation that lived and worked here. …

At the opposite end of the church from the Chagall windows is the West Choir. While less famous than its eastern counterpart, it contains important links to the church's founding. …

We exit the church to walk through the surrounding grounds, often referred to as a garden of peace. From this vantage point, you can appreciate the church’s position as a 'city on a hill.' The tall, slender windows we saw from…

As we depart from St. Stephan’s, the blue light of Marc Chagall’s windows likely lingers in your mind's eye. …