Church (Gvardeyskoye)

 church, Brick Gothic (architecture), interesting place, lutheran church/kirk, 14th century construction, object of cultural heritage of regional importance (Russia)

Before 1945 the church of Mühlhausen was one of the most beautifull of East-Prussia. The interior was created between 1693 and 1698 by the wood sculptor Isaak Riga and painter Gottfried Hinz.
The church was built in the early 14th century. Up til 1945 war hardly damaged the building. Afterwards, art works painted by Lucas Cranach, picturing family members of Martin Luther were heavily damaged. The main church building was used as storage, in the choir was a mill installed that fabricated animal food. At the south wall was created an opening for trucks and the church windows were closed by bricks. In 1992, the building was in a deplorable state. In 1993 the building was donated to the newly founded lutheran church of Kaliningrad. With heavy German funding the building was restored and used since 1999 for church services. The 29m high tower was enriched by a new radiocontrolled clockwork. Of the interior little remained but a woodwork (Holztonnendecke) from 1695. This was restaurated as well as a sidewall painting of "Judgement Day" of the 15th century.
In the Church is the tomb of Margarete Luther (* 17 December 1534 in Wittenberg; † 1570), daughter of Martin Luther.