Madonna of the Street
The Madonna of the Street is a place of worship on Bundesstraße 55 . It is located about 1 km north of Oedingen and is one of the cultural sights of the city of Lennestadt .
Origin as a processional chapel Bethanien
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The resting place and place of worship, known today under the name of Madonna der Straße , was used in the 19th century under the name Bethanien as the Mother of God and processional chapel . This results from a note in the archives of the parish of Oedingen from the year 1890, according to which the then pastor Hardebusch donated a sum of money to the parish with the condition that the interest on the money also used the maintenance of the Chapel of Our Lady and procession chapel Bethanien . Material and craft bills listed in the church archive of the parish of Oedingen point to 1879 as the year of construction or origin of the processional chapel. The reasons for naming Bethanien are not further documented. Bethany is a biblical place between Jerusalem and Jericho, which according to the Gospel of John was the place of residence of Lazarus .
After its completion, the Bethanien processional chapel was the first stop in the annual Ascension Day procession , which led back to the parish church of St. Burchardus in Oedingen via other stations (such as Schwartmecke and Leckmart ). According to a church order from 1814, the main annual procession of the community was moved to the feast day of Ascension Day in order to maintain a dignified framework. On this feast day, the restaurants were closed and dancing and other public entertainment were prohibited.
Change in meaning to a resting place and place of worship
Processions to the Bethanien Chapel took place after the Second World War. Due to the location on federal highway 55 and the increasing traffic density, they were finally discontinued. The proximity to the street, however, increased the number of travelers who seek rest and reflection at the chapel. Often the travelers bring candles with them, which they light in front of the mosaic image of Our Lady . The devotional character of the site is also expressed in a prayer table and prayer slips. Passers-by can watch the candlelight almost continuously from the main road.
Madonna of the street as a new name
With the increasing number of people passing through and because of its proximity to the main road, the rest and prayer area became known as the Madonna of the Road . Since the straightening of the road in the area of the rest area and prayer area, it is no longer directly on the federal road. The old carriageway now forms a safe driveway, and the forecourt has been enlarged and embellished. The site is looked after and maintained by the Catholic parish of St. Burchardus Oedingen. The Catholic women's community meets there once a year for a prayer.
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The historical data is information in the archive of the parish of St. Burchardus in Oedingen, which was compiled by Mr. Gerhard Arens from Oedingen on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary.
Panoramic view of the Madonna of the Street place of worship
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Coordinates: 51 ° 11 ′ 6 ″ N , 8 ° 7 ′ 5 ″ E