Unicorn service: Children can bring their magical friends!

Unicorn service: Children can bring their magical friends!

Next June 1, 2025, two special services will take place in Rohrau and Hildrizhausen, dedicated to the fascinating topic of unicorns. Pastor Andreas Roß will hold a service for adults in the Rohrau Christ Church at 9 a.m., while a family service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Nikomedes Church in Hildrizhausen. This service encourages children to bring their unicorns, which receives an enthusiastic response. A surprise for the children and a subsequent church coffee round off the event, as krzbb.de reports.

The idea for this special service came from the religious education lessons of first graders, who see unicorns as helpers and protectors. Pastor Roß explains that the unicorn represents Jesus Christ in Christian symbolism, which is due to a translation error in the Bible. The term “unicorn” was only replaced by “wild bull” in the Luther Bible around 60 years ago, making it an old term that still represents an important component of the Christian faith.

The unicorn in Christian symbolism

Historically, the unicorn plays a central role in Christian iconography, dating back to the Middle Ages. Professor Jochen Hörisch from the University of Mannheim, a renowned “unicornologist,” sheds light on the long history of the unicorn in Christianity, which is often described as a symbol of Jesus Christ. In the Middle Ages, many people believed in the existence of these magical creatures; even Martin Luther spoke about the unicorn in his writings and considered it untamable. The term “unicorn” comes from a translation error of the Hebrew “re’em,” which means an untamable animal, notes [meine-kirchenzeitung.de](https://www.meine-kirchenzeitung.de/c- Glaube-und-alltag/die-theologie-des-einhorns_a23626).

In religious bestiaries, important reference works of the Middle Ages, the unicorn was often depicted as an incarnation of Christ. Legend has it that a unicorn can only be caught by a virgin, symbolizing the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. The relational connection between the unicorn and Mary is also evident in the art of this era, where Mary is often stylized as the catcher of the heavenly unicorn. These representations illustrate the comprehensive symbolism and importance of the unicorn within the Christian tradition, as museumaargau.ch describes in detail.

The fascination of the unicorn today

The fascination with the unicorn is unbroken and is evident not only in religious contexts, but also in current trends. Unicorns are not only popular wishes on Christmas lists, but also part of Advent calendars, such as the one from Playmobil, which contains a baby unicorn. This reference to unicorns in modern culture illustrates the continued popularity of these mythical creatures. Hörisch highlights that the unicorn conveys a message of fearlessness and should not be viewed as a harmless plush toy, highlighting the deeper meaning and historical context of the unicorn symbol.

The upcoming church services in Rohrau and Hildrizhausen will not only continue the tradition, but will also introduce younger generations to the meaning of the unicorn in Christian symbolism.