Begräbniskirche St. Michael – OFFEN FÜR ALLE

Ich designe meinen Tod

Whether one chooses recomposition, in which the body is composted into soil within 40 days, a biodegradable mushroom coffin, the scattering of ashes in a woodland cemetery, burial in a tree capsule, or even a diamond created from cremation ashes – today, provided one can afford it, these decisions largely rest with the individual. Compared to just a few decades ago, when burial in a coffin was the norm, this development amounts to a revolution – one that is increasingly being reflected in legislation.

What does this mean for social cohesion and our culture of remembrance? How do people mourn and commemorate in social media? What challenges does a modern funeral director face, and how do different religions respond?

These questions will be explored and discussed on May 18, 2026, at 19:30 by:
Verena Kitz, Pastoral Advisor and Head of the Bereavement Care Center St. Michael, Frankfurt am Main
Sabine Eller, funeral director and grief counselor, sterbenleben, Darmstadt
Dr. Wolfgang Beck, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Homiletics, Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology
Abdelssamad El-Yazidi, Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany
Moderator: Dr. Joachim Valentin, Director of Haus am Dom
Venue: Haus am Dom, Domplatz 3, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
The House at the Cathedral is wheelchair accessible.
Admission is free.

The Frankfurter Domkreis für Kirche und Wissenschaft is a long-standing platform in Frankfurt am Main that promotes dialogue between the Church, academia, and society. Through lectures and public panel discussions, it addresses current social, political, ethical, and religious issues. Its aim is to strengthen the exchange between theological reflection and broader academic and societal debate.