Gedenkgottesdienst für Sinti und Roma

Memorial service for Sinti and Roma

500,000 Sinti and Roma from all over Europe fell victim to National Socialist terror. It took a long time for this genocide to find a place in the German culture of remembrance and that of the Protestant Church. In 2020 and 2022, the first Germany-wide memorial services for the murdered Sinti and Roma were held in Berlin Cathedral.

In 2023, this tradition will be continued - even more: on January 29 at 6 p.m., Prelate Anne Gidion will hand over a declaration of the Council of the EKD on combating antiziganism to Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, in the Berlin Cathedral. With this declaration, the EKD, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, and the Network Sinti, Roma and Churches for the first time officially strengthen their cooperation to counteract antiziganism in the everyday life of church and society. The aim is to come to terms with the long history of exclusion and persecution and to strengthen the participation of Sinti and Roma in politics and society.

Sermon: Prelate Anne Gidion, Plenipotentiary of the Council of the EKD to the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union
Liturgy: Cathedral preacher Dr. Petra Zimmermann
Present: Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Rev. Dr. Christian Staffa, Director of Studies Ev. Akademie Berlin, Dotschy Reinhardt, Regional Council of Sinti & Roma Berlin Brandenburg
Music: Tcha Limberger Trio, organist LKMD Prof. Dr. Gunter Kennel