Talking Tombstones of Föhr ~ Boldixsum, Germany

Here rests in God

Seel Lobbe ~ last name is not legible

Daughter Anna so born 1711 the 15th

June. Married to the Shipman Nikels Jappen

1735 the 30th December. 

During the marriage were born 2 daughters and after

the husband died in 1740 in November 

during a journey to St. Valert,

she walked into another marriage

to Commander Namen Frerck 1744 the 4th December.

Unfortunately the remaining information on this stone is underground. 

It is a fine example of the 'Talking Tombstones of Föhr' ~ a North Frisian Island off the coast of Germany ~ The tombstones are so called because of the amount of personal information they contain and the carvings upon them also depict a wealth of information too.

Pictured above we can see the woman ascending to heaven with the five daughters from her second marriage looking on from one side and her first two daughters looking on from the other side and are shown smaller and lower.

Friday's Funerary Symbols ~ Beehives

When the followers of Christ started looking for symbols to illustrate their faith, the Bee was one of the first  to be incorporated as a Christian symbol. The bee may symbolise parishioners working fervently for the Church ~ the Hive.

Germanic cultures see the seemingly erratic flight of bees as a symbol of wandering souls.

The information above comes from the book Stories in Stone by Douglas Keister.

As these photos were all taken on the German island of Föhr, it made me wonder about the bees being perceived as wandering souls and perhaps the Hive therefore represents a Home, Safe Haven or Sanctuary for them....  

All photos taken at St. Laurentii, Suderender, Föhr

Wednesday's Child ~ Our Sparrow

At the foot of the Carstensen memorial, stood this smaller stone

in the Churchyard of St. Nicolai, Boldixum~Wyk.

Our Sparrow

Dirk

b. 7~5~1980    d. 2~2~1987