Holy Week and Easter 2026
When the Christian Church’s most sacred holidays are observed from Holy Thursday through Easter Monday, a special time begins. Anyone who has experienced it once at Berlin Cathedral will never forget it. Through devotions and worship services, outstanding musical performances, and the traditional Good Friday procession, we embark on a journey that leads from the breaking of night, through the silence of the tomb, to the joy of Easter.
Some highlights: During the service on Holy Thursday at 8 p.m., Holy Communion is celebrated for the last time before the altar is covered in black and the light is carried out of the church. On Good Friday, the altar remains veiled. At the 10 a.m. service, the Schola of the Berlin Cathedral Choir will sing; afterward, the cathedral congregation will accompany the traditional Good Friday procession, during which the cross is carried through Berlin-Mitte in ecumenical fellowship. At 3 p.m., the hour of Jesus’ death, Bach and Mendelssohn will be performed by the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir, the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, and the Kammersymphonie Berlin. At 5 p.m., Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling presents “Good Friday with Bach!”; featuring, among other works, arias and choruses from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion transcribed for organ.
On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil begins at 10 p.m. in the darkened church, which gradually fills with candlelight. During the festive service on Easter Sunday at 10 a.m., the light of the Resurrection shines forth, with Bishop Dr. Christian Scholpp delivering the sermon. On Easter Monday, a festive service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. with Cathedral Preacher Stefan Scholpp, and an evening service at 6 p.m. with Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Christoph Markschies.
The schedule in detail:
Holy Thursday, April 2, 8:00 p.m.
Service at the onset of night with Holy Communion
Sermon: Cathedral Preacher Christiane Münker
Liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Stefan Scholpp
Performer: Lotte Kosack, soprano
Organ: Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling
Also available as a live stream at www.berlinerdom.de/live
Good Friday, April 3, 10 a.m.
Good Friday service with Good Friday procession
Sermon and liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Stefan Scholpp
Choir: Schola of the Berlin Cathedral Choir
Conductor: Cathedral Cantor Adrian Büttemeier
Also available as a live stream at https://www.berlinerdom.de/live
Good Friday, April 3, 3:00 p.m.
Devotion marking the hour of Jesus’ death
Featuring works by Bach and Mendelssohn
Sermon and liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Christiane Münker
Performers: Staats- und Domchor Berlin, Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, Kammersymphonie Berlin, Evangelist: András Adamik
Conductor: Kai-Uwe Jirka
Also broadcast live at www.berlinerdom.de/live and on BibelTV
Good Friday, April 3, 5:00 p.m.
Good Friday with Bach!
Organ concert by Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling
Works by Johann Sebastian Bach on the grand Sauer organ
Tickets: €12 / reduced €8
Good Friday, April 3, 8:30 p.m.
Prayer at the Cross
With songs by the ecumenical Taizé Community
Liturgy: Pastor Ingrid Ossig
Performers: Florian Stocker, piano, and Mariko Wakayama, soprano
Holy Saturday, April 4, 10:00 p.m.
Easter Vigil Service with Adult Baptism and Holy Communion
Sermon: Cathedral Preacher Christiane Münker
Liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Stefan Scholpp
Ensemble: Berlin Cathedral Brass Ensemble
Conductor and Organ: Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling
Also available as a live stream at www.berlinerdom.de/live
Easter Sunday, April 5, 10 a.m.
Easter Sunday service with Holy Communion
Including a children’s service
Sermon: Bishop Dr. Christian Stäblein
Liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Christiane Münker
Choir: Berlin State and Cathedral Choir
Conductor: Kai-Uwe Jirka
Organ: Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling
English translation in Loge J
Also available as a live stream at www.berlinerdom.de/live
Easter Sunday, April 5, 6:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday evening service with Holy Communion
Sermon: Prof. Dr. Ralf K. Wüstenberg
Performers: Florian Stocker, organ, and Hannah Schmid-Ott, soprano
Easter Monday, April 6, 10 a.m.
Easter Monday Festive Service with Holy Communion
Sermon and Liturgy: Cathedral Preacher Stefan Scholpp
Performer: Manuel Abreu, trumpet
Organ: Cathedral Organist Andreas Sieling
Also available as a live stream at www.berlinerdom.de/live
Easter Monday, April 6, 6:00 p.m.
Evening service for Easter Monday
Sermon and liturgy: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Christoph Markschies
Performers: Florian Stocker, organ, and Johannes Huprich, trumpet