ST. ELISABETHKIRCHE

Very rare: Green Man with black face, emphasizing his Middle East origin as vegetation God....

The Elisabeth Church in Marburg is one of the oldest Gothic Churches of Germany. So I went there with lots of expectation. Because the older the Church is, the greater the chance that memories of the old times will be preserved. From W.Anderson ("The Green Man") I knew that there should be some unique golden leave Green Men. But where? I looked into all corners (because Green Men are mostly rather hidden). Finally I asked a employee of the Church. First he pretended not to understand my question. Subsequently he showed me an arch (pulpitum) on the high altar!

There they were. Not in a back yard but gloriously celebrated at the center of the Christian Eucharist. Its meaning: Green Men have never become forgotten. On the contrary, they seem to be the symbols of an unbroken tradition, Christianity could not ignore. When I left the church I searched in the dozens of (beautiful) brochures, all exposesing the riches of the church. NONE had a photo, description or even mentioning of the Green Men. It complies with an impression I already had for some time. The Catholic Church is very much aware of the presence and meaning of Green Men. Afraid too, apparently. That's why it actively suppresses them.