Christoph Magirius
Co-organiser of the grassroots democratic round table (municipal level) 1989/90
Honorary citizenship awarded on 3 October 1990
Pastor Christoph Magirius, born in Meerane in 1937, was superintendent in Chemnitz from 1979 to 1 September 1990.
For more than a decade, Magirius was a negotiating partner between state authorities and the church. He fearlessly used the power of his personality and his office to promote mutual understanding and conflict resolution.
He was often able to mediate, and sometimes his dialogue partners even appreciated him and allowed themselves to be moved to new insights.
Often enough, however, he was met with hostility because, as a representative of the church, he interfered - as was believed - in the domain of the power of the state, because he promoted or protected the peace activities of Christian citizens and opposition groups, which were politically disregarded and even persecuted in this country.
In the days of the late summer and autumn of 1989, when the civil movements in our city were gathering and articulating themselves ever more strongly, men like Magirius shaped the intellectual space for mutual respect and tolerance, for renouncing violence in dialogue and action, for the probably unique non-violent and peaceful revolution.
The mediating role of Superintendent Magirius became more and more important in the city council, in talks with the mayor at the time, so that the foundation stone for the "round tables" of the city and the district was laid through the council talks.
This work has been recognised and respected beyond the Christian sphere by all sections of the population and political parties and movements.
On 3 October 1990, Christoph Magirius was made an honorary citizen of the city of Chemnitz.
Interview
from the brochure "Two names one city - tracing the renaming of Karl-Marx-Stadt to Chemnitz"
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