Was Luther Really the Tipping Point for Radical Change? Sunday Adult Forum July 30, 2017 Series: Reformations Nancy Elkington Peter Waldo John Wyclif Jan Hus French Wealthy English Oxford Don, Czech Priest & Merchant, became preacher, bible Philosopher mendicant preacher translator c 1369-1415 c 1140-1218 c 1320-1384 Lollards Hussites Waldensians and (and Czech Wycliffites Brethren) Waldensians "Light glows in the darkness" Peter Waldo c 1140-1218 Hussites (and Bohemian/Czech Brethren) Jan Hus at Council of Constance by Václav Brožík (1851-1901) © Wikipedia Commons Jan Hus c 1369-1415 Lollards Map of Lollardy's influence. Areas of Lollardy's influence before the death of Richard II are in green. Areas where Lollardy spread in the 15th century are in red. John Wycliffe c 1320-1384 Commonalities Among Early Reformers • Each felt the Church was too wealthy, powerful, and distant from Christ’s teachings – wanted a return to an Apostolic tradition (poverty, teaching, loving) • They all shared an emphasis on preaching in vernacular languages; ensured access to bibles in local/regional dialects by commissioning translations • Committed to encouraging lay people (including women) to preach • Advocated full access to Eucharist (bread, wine, fish) for all • Denied the existence of Purgatory (non-Biblical) • Denied the miracle of transubstantiation (non-Biblical) • 2 of 3 were persecuted, declared heretical, tried, burned/hanged/killed violently Peter Waldo Martin Luther John Wyclif (hidden from view) Jan Hus Savonarola http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=derp073 Luther Monument – the world’s largest Reformation monument The Luther Monument in Worms tells the early history of the Reformation. The world’s biggest Reformation monument was made possible by donations from all over the Lutheran world. It was designed by Ernst Rietschel and officially unveiled in 1868. Rietschel’s design is based on the Lutheran hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’. The square base area is enclosed on three sides by castellated walls displaying the coats of arms of towns and cities that joined the Reformation movement. Raised pedestals support statues of famous 16th-century politicians and humanists who were connected with Luther. Between them sit three allegorical figures who symbolise the events and impacts of the Reformation. The tower-like main pedestal in the centre of the monument, with steps leading up to it, supports a statue of Luther dressed in a preacher’s robe and holding the Bible. He is looking towards the place in the shadow of the Cathedral, where the Bishop’s residence once stood and where he appeared before Emperor and state in 1521. Below him on four plinths sit Wyclif and Hus, forerunners of the Reformation, Petrus Waldus, founder of the Waldensian movement, and the friar Savonarola. The sides of the pedestal display coats of arms, medallions and reliefs illustrating the events of the Reformation. Click here to see a photo gallery of the Luther Monument. Take a virtual walk around the Luther Monument. https://www.worms.de/en/tourismus/sehenswertes/listen/luther---auf-den-Spuren-der-Reformation-in-Worms.php.