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Mönchengladbach (dpa) - An unusual Christmas Eve service took place in Mönchengladbach on Thursday: About 250 visitors took part in an ecumenical open-air service in a beach chair.
The special offer had long been sold out, as the organizers reported.
In the end, however, not all 500 interested parties who had reserved a place came.
The service was celebrated by Superintendent Dietrich Denker together with the Catholic pastor Klaus Hurtz.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to react creatively to the challenges of the Corona era," said Hurtz.
A beach chair was available to two visitors living in a household, with the beach chairs being arranged in separate islands.
The entrances to the islands were separated to ensure that visitors did not meet.
The Christmas Eve services in Cologne Cathedral were booked out hours after the seats were released.
It was about 250 places each for a prayer at 4 p.m. and masses at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. as well as the pontifical mass at midnight.
The seats were free, but had to be reserved in advance due to the Corona regulations.
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Information about the beach chair fair