Sins to be Burned in Cologne’s Raderthal: A Carnival Tradition Continues

Cologne-Raderthal – The Evangelical Philippus Church Community and the citizens’ association “Raderberg and -thal” will host a ceremonial burning of sins on Tuesday, February 17th, at 7:11 p.m. In the forecourt of the Benedictine monastery on Brühler Straße 74. Raderberg und -thal.

A Joint Effort in Tradition

Pastors Klaus Eberhard of the Evangelical Philippus Church and Thomas Frings, a Catholic priest, will preside over the event, incinerating entries collected throughout the carnival season. The tradition allows participants to symbolically shed their wrongdoings.

How to Participate

Individuals wishing to have their sins burned can write them down on flyers distributed in the neighborhood or submit them via email to info@raderbergundthal.de.

About the Participating Clergy

Klaus Eberhard serves as the pastor and chairman of the presbytery at the Evangelical Philippus Church. He can be reached at klaus.eberhard@ekir.de or by phone at 0221.38 14 16. Evangelische Philippus-Gemeinde Köln

Thomas Frings is a Catholic pastor who previously led a “klerikalste aller Kölner Nubbelverbrennung” (most clerical of all Cologne sin burnings) and has a history of engaging with the community during Karneval. Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger

The Philippus Church Community

The Evangelical Philippus Church Community in Cologne-Raderthal celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. Pastor Eberhard described the community as “a faith-filled, lively, exciting, and diverse community where people can feel at home.” kirche-koeln.de