Lent 2025: Spiritual highlights and events in Cologne

Lent 2025: Spiritual highlights and events in Cologne

Lent 2025 begins on March 4th with Ash Wednesday and extends until Maundy Thursday on April 17th. This time is not only a period of waiver in the Protestant churches, but also a phase of inner contemplation and reflection. The municipalities in Cologne, the Rhein-Erft district and the Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis have put together a comprehensive program of events on the occasion of these special weeks. Numerous passion devotions, concerts and other activities invite the faithful to deal intensively with the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Lent is a significant part of church life, in which believers have the opportunity to think about their own life. It is not just about the absence of certain things, but also about reflection on faith and spirituality. Kirchen-koeln.de reports that fasting groups actively participate in order to promote the "7 weeks without" campaign of the Evangelical Church. This initiative calls on something for a certain period of time to have new experiences and to question old behavior patterns.

diverse events in the region

In Cologne, ecumenical services and passion devotions take place on March 5, followed by a number of events such as organ concerts and intercultural breaking of fasting. The detailed offers in Cologne include:

• 05.03.2025, 18:00: Ecumenical service in the Antonitekirche, ash cross is issued.
• 09.03.2025, 17:00: organ concert in the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Church.
• 30.03.2025, 17:00: Passion concert "Miserere" in the Trinitatismenkirche.
• 04.04.2025, 19:30: Markus Passion in the Paul-Gerhardt Church.
• 05.04.2025, 18:00: performance of the Matthew Passion in the Trinitatismenkirche.

In the Rhein-Erft district and in the Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis, interesting offers are also scheduled. On March 6th, several events are on the program in the Johanneskirche Kerpen and in the Andreaskirche.

The importance of fasting time

Lent is a tradition that has been practiced in Christianity for centuries. In the past few times there have been strict rules and regulations for fasting. 7wochen.evangelisch.de emphasizes that the waiver in the Middle Ages was heavily regulated, while Martin Luther questioned these strict fasting rules in the Reformation. He did not recommend fasting as a duty, but as a form of external breeding and self -reflection.

Nowadays, people decide individually what they do without during Lent. It is no longer just about the waiver of food, but also about the challenge of abandoning and questioning habits. This contemporary handling of Lent also includes elements such as avoiding alcohol, nicotine or even digital devices. The aim of this reflection is to discover new perspectives and set priorities again.

Lent lures people to a more conscious way of lifestyle and deeper sensitivity to the needs of others. lukas14.de aims to take an inner attitude that not only thinks about your own needs, but also practices solidarity with those who are involuntarily starving.

Overall, this year's Passion period offers numerous opportunities to renew themselves spiritually, experience community and actively participate in the tradition of fasting.