History

Haus Nazareth was built toward the end of the 1800’s by a Jewish businessman from Berlin. The building was expanded in 1909. The earliest building plans stem from that time. Back then it was called “Landhaus Steinberg”. After the First World War the Haus was donated to the Jewish community in Berlin and became a home for the blind until the rise of the Nazi dictatorship. Synagogue services were also held in the Haus, in a large meeting room in the east wing of what is now the ground floor.

After the dispossession of the Haus by the Nazis, it was occupied for a brief time by the Gestapo until it was bombed (for which we thank God!). After the war was over, it was purchased by a small group of Roman Catholic nuns and became their living and ministry center for the next fifty years as they worked with orphans, street children and needy families. By the end of 2005, it was clear to the Sisters that their time of active ministry was ending; they began praying that fellow believers would purchase Haus Nazareth (they had to sell it to provide for their last years).

At the end of 2005, they spoke with a doctor and his wife whose house bordered on their property. The physician contacted Clark and Ann Peddicord. God spoke clearly to the Philosophia team in the U.S. and, soon after, Philosophia Europa was established in Germany as an independent non-profit organization and the Haus was purchased as a center for the ecumenical and missionary work in Berlin. Money for the down payment was raised by donations and private loans. Over the following years, God led others to the Berlin community and they helped support the project. Without them, it would never have survived.

In 2011, tension began surfacing in the core team over the direction and purpose of the Haus. 2013-2015 was our season of great darkness: the Philosophia Europa team went through a wrenching time of division, trial and failure. We sought outside mediation and help; it proved unsuccessful and two of the couples in the core team left Philosophia.

God’s hand protected and saved the original vision he had given us, though; by 2016 a refinancing of the mortgage on the Haus was possible and this led to a repayment of key private loans; there was renewal and awakening in the remaining core team and student work. New friends joined the team.

Life in the Haus

Haus Nazareth is the living and learning center of spiritual life for Philosophia Europa. Currently, 13 students live there with Dr. Clark and Ann Peddicord. There are frequent discipleship and outreach meetings in their apartment.

The Haus is currently the office and congregational meeting place for four churches.

The seminar and fellowship room (the so-called “Volksküche”), the garden and the sun porch on the 3rd floor provide space for fellowship and teaching for all the residents of the Haus – and are the frequent site for Bible studies, seminars, parties, or just to find a quiet corner.

Community life is enriched by the contacts and discussions stimulated by international guests.

The ground floor and basement are home to a medical office as well as a pilates-therapy practice.