A unique place of worship for Christians, Muslims and Jews begins in Berlin

Ten years after the conception of this project, the construction works of the "House of one", on the Museum Island in the center of Berlin, are due to last four years whereas their launch planned last year had to be postponed. due to the pandemic.

Built on an old destroyed church during the days of the Communist GDR, the building was designed so that each group of believers can pray separately.

But the mosque, the synagogue and the Protestant church will be linked together by a large common hall where events and festivals can also be celebrated together.

"For us, it is a step forward full of symbolism," assured the imam of the future Kadir Sanci mosque.

"In these times of polarization of opinions and attitudes" which "cast a great shadow on the world, the + House of one + embodies the constructive spirit of faith and spirituality", he added.

He also saw in this place of worship of the three monotheistic religions "a place of peace and security", "a praise of the difference" while the tensions between Jews and Muslims have been sharp in Berlin in recent weeks in favor of the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian armed conflict.

The mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, in a speech during the ceremony denounced "hatred, violence, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, racism and incitement to racial hatred" which "n ' have no place in our society ".

"It is quite normal and even important that in the German capital, dramatic world conflicts can be the subject of a discussion", he assured, while rejecting any form of violence, while flags Israelis were burned and anti-Semitic slogans uttered at pro-Palestinian rallies in Germany.

The imam, pastor and rabbi of the "House of One" said short prayers before symbolic objects of the three religions of the Book were cast in stone.

The project estimated at 47 million euros is partly funded by the German state and the City of Berlin. A participatory campaign was also launched.