Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on StumbleUpon

Silly Tuesday: The Domschweizer

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 31 March 2009 in Art & Design.

Agreed, this photo isn't particularly funny and just a maverick in the Silly Tuesday collection. But I associate it with a little story I want to share with you:

A Kirchenschweizer (a word I didn't find a translation for) is part steward, part security guard, part caretaker in a church. When Swiss men were taking to the road in former times, they often brought themselves into service for various principals, for example in the church's service. The Papal Swiss Guard in the Vatican is one of the remnants of this time, the downsized version in Cologne is called Domschweizer. The photo shows one at tidying the candles in Cologne Cathedral.

One day, when my wife and me had a visit at Cologne Cathedral, one of them composed himself to close one of the small side chapels. But two women were still sitting there, one of them being a nun, engrossed in prayer. This is quite common in a church, so the Domschweizer snapped at them: Wenn'se beten wollen, jehen Se zu Andreas! - If you wanna pray, head for Andreas! - meaning they should switch the location of their worship to the smaller church St. Andreas that is located opposite to the Cathedral!

I can't fail to note that the quality of the churchly ground personnel has greatly suffered.

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

That is quite hilarious!!!! Hehehehe not what you would expect to be shouted at you as you pray!! lol!
Thank you for the silly story for silly Tuesday!!!

31 Mar 2009 5:37am

@Linerberry: Quite a cold shower at an unexpected place!

rem_la from Villiers, France

silence, on prie !

31 Mar 2009 9:24am

@rem_la: Sssshht! :-)

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

They should post their prayer hours... like a restaurant.

31 Mar 2009 11:25am

@JoeB: Don't laugh - this is not so uncommon here. Actually it does make sense, especiall in very crowded churches, as you don't have a chance to contemplate when hundreds of tourists are making fun around you.

PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States

Interesting story - and quite a nice picture

31 Mar 2009 3:37pm

@PD: This is one of the mentioned side chapels. :-)

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Fabulous!

31 Mar 2009 9:10pm

@Ana Lúcia: Cheers Ana Lúcia!

observing from North West, United Kingdom

What a strange thing to say.... it would be enough for me to give up my faith....!

31 Mar 2009 9:31pm

@observing: A bit of ability to suffer has its advantages. :-)

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Really nice shot.

31 Mar 2009 10:18pm

@Twelvebit: Thanks, John!