With a festive worship service in the morning and a jubilee celebration in the afternoon, the Marienhöhe Adventist School Center (Darmstadt) celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 8. Hundreds of invited guests and members of the school community took part in the event.
The day began with a special service in the church center of the Adventist congregation, located on the school campus. The worship service and afternoon celebration included short interviews with representatives of the school and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which sponsors the school.
Greetings and Well-Wishes During the Worship Service
Christian Badorrek, president of the regional Adventist Conference, described Marienhöhe as “a flagship of the Church in the region and throughout Germany.” He emphasized that the school center is the result of a joint effort by the entire Church. Looking to the future, he expressed his hope that the school and local church community would not settle for the status quo but continue to dream and strive for more.
Dr. Christian Noack, head of the Marienhöhe School Center, shared how the school has influenced him throughout his life. Drawing on the school’s long-standing motto, he hopes that Marienhöhe will continue to be a “school for life” in the broadest sense—a place where many skills and talents can be brought together.
Professor Dr. Roland Fischer, rector of the Adventist Theological University in Friedensau (near Magdeburg), studied theology at Marienhöhe when it still had its own theological seminary. This seminary merged with the one in Friedensau, in the early 1990s, and Friedensau gained official state recognition as a university in 1990. Fischer noted how the high-quality theological education at Marienhöhe shaped him and awakened his love for theology. He hopes the school’s educational concept will continue to flourish and that the school and church will maintain a positive influence on their surroundings.
In his sermon, another Marienhöhe-educated pastor, Ralf Schönfeld, used a story from the Old Testament to illustrate how God can bring healing and goodness out of misfortune and tragedy through His grace.
Inspiring Musical Contributions by Project Choir and Orchestra
For the worship service and celebration, a project choir was formed under the direction of Angela Reich. Alongside the orchestra of the Marienhöhe school and church, they enriched the day with musical performances. The songs included “Freed to Live,” “Come and Praise the Lord,” “God’s Goodness,” and “Symphony of Praise.”
Afternoon Jubilee Celebration
In the afternoon, Pastor Radovan Marjanov led the program for the jubilee celebration. The school principal, Christian Noack, together with Stefanie Noack-Bürger (a teacher at the school center) and Dr. Thomas Bürger (an educational scientist from the University of Giessen), gave a historical review of the school’s development (see APD report from March 11, 2025).
Werner Dullinger, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany, spoke of his own theological studies at the former Marienhöhe Theological Seminary, beginning in 1980. He was the first student elected to the leadership of the local Adventist church. For the future, he wishes the school to remain a place where education and values are taught and where innovation is welcomed.
Greetings by Video and Evening Conclusion
Pre-recorded video messages brought greetings and congratulations from leaders of ADRA (the aid organization based in Weiterstadt near Darmstadt), Hope Media Europe (Alsbach-Hähnlein, Bergstraße), and other Adventist congregations in Darmstadt.
The day concluded with a communal dinner held in tents on the auditorium lawn of the school center, financed by the Middle Rhine Conference (the regional Adventist administrative body). The following day, after a shared brunch, guests were invited to participate in a guided tour of the campus.
Commemorative Chronicle Published
To mark the anniversary, a detailed illustrated chronicle, titled “100 Years of Marienhöhe – A Chronicle”, has been published. It is available from the school center for a voluntary donation plus shipping (suggested total: 30 euros). Orders can be placed at:
Schulzentrum Marienhöhe, Auf der Marienhöhe 32, 64297 Darmstadt; Email: info@marienhoehe.de
Upcoming Celebration
Another ceremonial event for the school’s centennial, including a large summer festival, will take place on July 3 starting at 5:00 p.m.
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