Europe

Queen gifts home-made altar hanging to famed Lutheran church

Associated Press
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An embroidering antependium (altar hanging), a gift of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, is placed at the altar after the service in the 'Schlosskirche' (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Together with German President Joachim Gauck, Queen Margrethe II opened the Castle Church after several years of restoration. Queen Margrethe II is in Germany for a one-day-visit. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

Interior view of the 'Schlosskirche' (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Together with German President Joachim Gauck Queen Margrethe II opened the church after several years of restoration. Queen Margrethe II is on a one-day-visit in Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

A woman touches an embroidering antependium (altar hanging), a gift of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, after a service in the 'Schlosskirche' (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Together with German President Joachim Gauck Queen Margrethe II opened the church after several years of restoration. Queen Margrethe II is on a one-day-visit in Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

The Queen of Denmark has donated an altar hanging she embroidered to the German church considered a starting point for Martin Luther's Reformation movement almost 500 years ago.

Luther is said to have nailed his "95 Theses" which challenged the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences, to the door of Wittenberg's All Saints' Church in 1517.

Queen Margrethe II attended a service there Sunday together with German President Joachim Gauck, a former Lutheran pastor. The Wittenberg church is also known as Castle Church.

The 76-year-old queen said she designed and stitched the red altar hanging herself. It features a white rose, the symbol of Lutheranism.

Margrethe heads the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Germany is hosting a series of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation next year.