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| This baptismal chapel probably originated in the 9th century and is thus the oldest human construction in the Sonneberg area still in existence. The chapel was cut into the sandstone by monks and features a raised Latin cross in the frontal wall. According to tradition, every year on the festival day of John the Baptist, on June 24, the rays of the rising sun illuminated this cross. Because of the house that was built above the Cella, the sun's rays are no longer able to reach the cross. Cuno Hoffmeister, the founder of the Planetarium in Sonneberg, however, confirmed this tale through astronomic calculations. The Cella was first mentioned in 1341. A document today located in Dresden names the house at Gerichtssteig 1 as being "super cellam" (above the Cella). Furthermore, there is a legend in the area concerning a "black monk". It is said that this black monk picks up all disobedient children to bring them to this house. Made curious by the document and the tale, the former director of the Toy Museum, Otto Keil, and others scarched for the Cella Antiqua in Sonneberg. What they found was a picture of devastation: the Cella was filled with rubble. Today, it is believed that this was done intentionally to protect the Cella from destruction during the time of the Reformation when the inhabitants of Sonneberg became protestant and all Catholic expressions of faith were prohibited. In 1961, the Cella was explored and dated by a joint venture of East and West German scientists. On the right side just past the entrance, a baptistery is located. It is filled through a crevice in the stone with fresh spring water. The baptistery is about 12 inches deep. The water has an approximate temperature of 5° C (41° F). Below the cross straight ahead lies the broken cover of the former altar. It was found in the adjacent potato cellar and was broken in 1930 when unknowing craftsmen destroyed it during maintenance work. In 1954, Otto Keil collected the remaining pieces and brought them to the Museum. In the 1970s, they were brought back to the Cella. The last baptism was celebrated here in 1989 when some teenagers were baptized by a local pastor. |
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