The Church of Prohn and its Baroque Interior

The most famous Pomeranian artist in the 18th century was the Stralsund sculptor Elias Keßler. During the beginning of the 18th century, Keßlers artworks, such as the pulpit in the church of Prohn from 1724, shaped the art of Swedish-Pomerania. The entrance of the pulpit is ornamented with a wooden carving of the apostle Peter. This figure is typical for pulpits, because Saint Peter and Paul ought to remind the pastor on his important duty.The edges of the pulpit were decorated with golden leaves and strapwork tendrils. The relief of the portal symbolizes and underlines the function of the pulpit. That’s why there is a bounded man who looks directly to the winged heart, attached to one side of the pulpit. This is a symbol for devotion and the love a god.Further reliefs characterize values like faith, hope and the perpetual presence of god. The pulpit ceiling is based on the model of the Book of Revelation. It is also decorated with four cherubs. The putti with the tablets of law, which got lost during the last decades, symbolize the gospel. Among the angels we witness Jesus Christ visible, who appears the recumbent Saint John. Above this, thereis an angel who carries the book with the seven seals in its left hand.

The big number of angel figures in the church interior is typical for the age of Baroque. An amazing example is the baptismal angel which was made by Keßler and was renovated in 2012. The flying angel wears an elegantly curved garment, sandals and someparts of armour. Beneath this, he has detailed carved structure of hair. These are all symbols of the archangel Michael, who fights the evil and supports the one, who be baptized.

Another baroque sculptor was Jakob Freese. Freese, who was born in Stralsund, made the retable and the stalls of the sacristy during the 18th century. They are attached to the northern triumphant arch- wall and ornamented with golden tendrils-carvings. Above is a depiction of the good shepherd. This scenery is framed by two sitting figures and also two golden vases.

This epitaph from a Stralsund merchant has its origin in 1676 and is highly adorned with a volute- and auricular styled tablet.The panel painting shows the last judgment and Christ as a general judge. It was a completely renovated in 2000.