Sophienkirche

It was located on the northeast corner of the Postplatz (post office square) in the old town before it was severely damaged in the Dresden bombing in 1945 and subsequently destroyed in 1962 by the party and government of the GDR.

The Franciscan Friary stood empty for decades before it was restored in 1610 by Sophie of Brandenburg and reopened as a Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Sofia in her honour.

In the hope of obtaining the title "Electoral Saxon Court Composer" Bach presented these to Augustus as a set of parts (Kyrie–Gloria Mass, BWV 232 I (early version)).

[3] However, in 1734 Bach performed a secular cantata, a dramma per musica, BWV 215, in honour of Augustus, in the presence of the King and Queen, the first movement of which was later adapted into the B minor Mass Hosanna.

Despite strong protests by Dresden conservators, architects and citizens, the remains of the church were destroyed in 1962 by resolution of the party and government of the German Democratic Republic.

On 1 May 1963 the last parts of the oldest Dresden church disappeared — except for a partially destroyed sandstone framework of windows, which were stored in the catacombs under Brühl's Terrace.