High altar The high
altar was made by a Stralsund sculptor around 1480. During
World War II the altar was removed from the church and stowed in a safe place, but it was nevertheless partially destroyed. In 1948 the damaged altar returned to the church. In 1997, a new crucifix built by
Halberstadt artist
Johann-Peter Hinz was installed. The central part of the 6.70 wide by 4.20 meters high altar shows the
crucifixion of Christ. The wings and the central part feature numerous carved figures, all depicting the story of the
Passion. The
predella is dedicated to
Christ's birth. In 1992, the painted wings were taken from the altar and now protrude from the two pillars on the left and right of the altar. These depict scenes from the life of
Saint Anne and
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Other altars and pews The church once housed 56 altars. Most of the altars were owned by guilds, though some were owned individual families. They were scattered throughout the church, often attached to the pillars. During the
Bildersturm of 1525, many altars were lost. The altar of the tailors' guild, built at the end of the 15th century and placed in a privileged position near the high altar, was preserved. The mayor's altar (1510), the altar of the Junge family (1430), the so-called "altar of the
Bergen merchants", the altars of the basketmakers and saddlemakers, and the Olav altar were also preserved.
Schlüter altar (main altar) The Schlüter altar was designed by the
Prussian court architect
Andreas Schlüter, best known for designing the
Amber Room. The main altar between the nave and chancel was installed in place of the former
rood loft. The construction work was done by the Stralsund sculptor Thomas Phalert, a student of Schlüter. In 1708 the work was finished, but it took until 1733 for the painting to be finished, and the gilding was introduced only in 1735. In the center the altar, which has been decorated on both sides, is a carved relief of the
Eye of Providence surrounded by a cloud wreath with angels praising it and playing musical instruments, and flanked by column pillars with standing angels in front of them. Above it is a representation of the
Last Supper. The grand altar is crowned with a crucifix and statues that represent hope and faith. The fences with
putti and garlands on either side of the altar are from 1707-1708.
Statue of Virgin and Child with Saint Anne In the north ambulatory, there is a statue of
Anna Selbdritt (
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne) dating back to the late 13th century. The statue shows the remnants of the original paint and is one of the earliest statues of
Anna Selbdritt in the
Baltic region.
Astronomical clock Behind the high altar is the
astronomical clock, which was built in 1394 by
Nikolaus Lilienfeld. The clock is part of a whole series of monumental clocks, which were installed since the 14th century in churches in different cities of the
Hanseatic League. It has a
wheel train with a mechanical
escapement. In addition to day and night times, the positions of the sun, moon, and fixed stars can also be read off the clock. It is the oldest almost completely preserved astronomical clock in the Baltic region and also the oldest mechanical clock in the world that still contains its original wheels.
Pewage of Riga merchants Four
oak reliefs from the altar of the Stralsund merchants who travelled to
Riga for conducting trade still remain. The tables were created in 1420. After the demolition of the altar, the reliefs got put into the church benches, until they were rediscovered in 1840. Usually such reliefs contain religious imagery, but the remaining remnants of the pew of the Riga merchants' guild are on purely secular themes. Three of the four reliefs show
Russians, with their characteristic long beards and wearing fur, hunting and harvesting honey and resin (products which were shipped from Riga to Stralsund). The fourth table shows the marketing of these products by Russians to Stralsund merchants. == Organs ==