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Wittenberg, Saxony MARTIN LUTHER PAGE 17 WEEK 4 - Wittenberg Saxony The City That Changed The World Now called Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Martin Luther moved to Wittenberg in “Isaiah Mighty Seer permanently in 1511. He was 28 years old. He moved into the new Black in Days of Old” Cloister Monastery and lived there until his death in 1546. Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old The Lord of all in Spirit did behold The “Vision” of Frederick The Wise High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright, In 1502 Frederick The Wise, Elector of Saxony, was With fowing train that flled the Temple quite. granted a charter for a new University from (HRE) Above the throne were stately Emperor Maximillian. It was Fredericks vision to have a seraphim, University on par with the great centers of learning in Six wings had they, these messengers of Him. Leipzig, and Erfurt in Germany and Paris and London. With twain they veiled their faces, He wanted to recruit the best faculty and build it as was meet, around a new Augustinian Cloister under the direction With twain in reverent awe of Dr. Johannes von Staupitz its first Professor of they hid their feet, Theology and Vicar General of the Augustinians. And with the other twain aloft they Frederick The Wise soared, 1502 University Charter One to the other called and praised the Lord: "Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! The New Professor Arrives in Wittenberg Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Behold, His glory flleth all the earth!" In late Summer 1511 after his return from Rome, Martin Luther arrives in The beams and lintels trembled at Wittenberg to lecture in Philosophy and study for his Doctorate in Theology. the cry, And clouds of smoke The first time in Wittenberg Luther commented, “We are sitting here in drudgery… at the edge of civilization…in the midst of barbarism” Luther gets enwrapped the throne on high. even crasser; he complains: “Here in Wittenberg there’s no more than a miserable corpse; we sit here in Wittenberg as if it were a miserable place.” Luther’s Catholic Words & Music by Martin Luther 1 nemesis Johann Cochlaeus (1479-1552). says, among other things about (1526) Wittenberg: “A miserable, filthy little town of Wittenberg, compared to Prague not even worth three pennies, isn’t even worthy to be called a town in Germany; it was unknown to the learned and the commoners 20 years ago; an unhealthy, unpleasant piece of land; without vineyards; without parks; without orchards; a peasants’ chamber; rough; half-frozen; joyless; filled with muck. What’s left in Wittenberg, if the castle, monastery, and school were gone? Without a doubt, you’d only see Lutheran, that is, filthy, houses; untidy alleys; all paths, ways, and streets full of mire; a barbarian people which doesn’t do anything but farming and small trade. Their market is without people; their town is without burghers; its inhabitants wear simple garb; there’s great need and poverty of all inhabitants.” 2 PAGE 18 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL The “Magic 1/2 Mile” With Martin The Black Cloister Monastery to The Castle Church is about 1/2 mile… Lets follow Luther on the trip from his house to the Castle Church in 1511 as the new monk / student / professor and then 30 years later as the aged Doctor. 1. Old Latin School 2. (Stadtkirche) St. Mary’s Church “Luther could not have 3. Franciscan Monastery 4. Coswig Gate (Castle Gate) made a Reformation - 5. Schlosskirche (Castle Church) indeed - he could not have 6. Cranach Houses survived without the 7. Markt (Market) 8. Leucorea (Wittenberg University) support he received in 9. Melanchthon’s House Wittenberg: from his fercely 10. Bugenhagen’s House protective elector, Frederick the Wise; from his colleagues in the University; from The Black Cloister Augustinian Monastery citizens who from 1514 were to appreciate the extraordinary power of his Luther’s home from the time he got preaching. Over the course to Wittenberg in 1511 until he died of Luther’s life this loyalty in 1546. The property was given to would be richly rewarded. Luther by Frederick The Wise for a As Luther became the most wedding present after the monastery famous man in Germany, so closed its doors during the height of Wittenberg became a the Reformation. It is now the magnet for those largest and most prestigious Luther / throughout Germany and Reformation History museum in the beyond who saw Luther as world. With his wife Katy as the their spiritual leader and proprietor the Luther home became protector. Countless like an Inn with 15 to 30 people The Black Cloister Circa 1525 thousands bought his always living in the residence. published writings. By the time of Luther’s death in 1546, Wittenberg was transformed” 3` Philip Melancthon’s House Andrew Pettegre Author of Just down the street from the Luther’s Brand Luther were the Melancthon’s. Philip Melancthon and Martin Luther remained close friends through years of working together. 14 years younger than Luther Philip’s family and Luther’s were very close. An alley connected the Melancthon’s back courtyard to the Luther’s home. The house is completely restored to its original layout and is a Reformation museum. MARTIN LUTHER PAGE 19 “Leucorea” Wittenberg University Next door to the Melencthon House is Wittenberg University. When it opened in 1502 it was named “Leucorea” Greek for “White Mountain” or “Wittenberg” Martin Luther began lecturing in Philosophy while working on his Doctorate in Theology. Luther became chair of Biblical Studies after he graduated. He maintained the post until his death in 1546. The Town Parish Church Our next stop is beautiful Parish or “Town” Church. It is the oldest building in Wittenberg. It was everyone’s “home” church and Luther preached here between 3,000 and 4,000 times. It is also known as the home church of the Reformation. Originally St. Mary’s Catholic Church it was built in 1187 and in its current position in 1280. The ornate inside of the church was damaged during the uprising led by Karlstadt when Luther was in Wartburg following the diet of Worms. It is located directly in the middle of city Wittenberg . Johannes Bugenhagen Luther was never the “Pastor” of the church, his dear (1485-1558) friend Johannes Bugenhagen was the Pastor and lived right beside the church. In Wittenberg, Bugenhagen was elected parish pastor on October 25, 1523, making him Martin Luther's pastor The Town Hall and Market and confessor. He was one of Luther’s dear friends and Colligenstrasse tuns into married Martin and Katy Van Marketstrasse for one long block Bora. He was a member of in front of the Market. This was Luther's team translating the Holy Bible from Greek and the center of activity in Luther’s Hebrew to German. time and still is today. The entire market is shadowed by the Town Church and Town Hall. Weekends and holidays a alive with activity in the market. Statues of Luther and Melancthon are in the middle of the square “I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip [Melanchthon] and my Amsdorf [Nicholaus von], the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all” 4 Martin Luther PA G E 2 0 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL ”Cranach” Home, Printshop & Courtyard Directly across from the town square are 2 properties owned by Lucas Cranach. Cranach was the known as the artist of the Reformation he was the court artist for the Elector and a very successful businessman and the wealthiest patron in Wittenberg. His two properties were a home, apothecary, print and art workshop with a beautiful courtyard. It is restored and open Luther’s Tomb inside the for the Luther 500 celebration. Castle Church "Here is buried the body of The Elector’s Castle and Castle Church the Doctor of Sacred Theology, Martin Luther, who died in the year of We finally end up at the end of the “magic 1/2 mile” at Christ 1546, on February the home of the most famous church doors in the 18th, in his hometown world. The beautiful Castle Church was the crown Eisleben, after having lived jewel of Frederick The Wise’s dream. A beautiful for 63 years, 2 months, and Cathedral and rival to the great Cathedral’s of Europe. 10 days." It was used for special services, ordinations, and college events. Luther received his doctorate and took his Doctorate vows here. Martin Luther, Philip Melancthon and Elector Frederick are all buried here. Extra Resource Luther is buried directly underneath the very pulpit This Week that he preached in. A special edition of Christian History Magazine dedicated to Martin Lither! download and read it today! Q&A ...My Take a Ways... Download at Walking in Luther’s footsteps was a life changer for me… www.LutherQuoted.com Do we have anywhere equivalent to Wittenberg in the United States? Luther’s spiritual roots are in Wittenberg, where are yours?: NEXT WEEK Bibliography & Notes (Sunday January 22nd) 1. Luther, Martin. The Hymns of Martin Luther.: Concordia Pub House, 2016. 34. Print. 2. Krüger, Gottfried. "How Did the Town of Wittenberg Look at the Time of Luther?" The Theses Web. http://thewittenbergproject.org/about/how-did-the-town-of-wittenberg-look-at- & the-time-of-luther/ The Tower 3. Pettegree, Andrew. Brand Luther: How an Unheralded Monk Turned His Small Town into a Center of Publishing, Made ..
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