dw.com - Germany is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation on Tuesday with a national holiday and ceremonies in the eastern city of Wittenberg, where Martin Luther began a split in the Catholic Church that transformed Christianity and Europe.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Saxony-Anhalt state Premier Reiner Haseloff will attend several ceremonies in Wittenberg — starting with an afternoon church service in the city's Castle Church and ending with a ceremony in the city hall in the evening.
They will be joined by other German politicians and numerous international guests.
Ahead of the anniversary, Merkel said in a podcast that Tuesday's ceremonies provide "the opportunity to reflect on what changes resulted from the Reformation."
Luther, a theology professor and priest, questioned the Catholic Church's teachings and challenged the Vatican's authority through his "95 Theses." He is believed to have nailed the theses to the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church on October 31, 1517.
Performances by musicians and comedians will also take place in Wittenberg's historic city center, which has been styled to recreate the medieval era in which Luther lived.
Visitors can also attend a modern art exhibition in the city as well as a light show.
Read more: How Martin Luther became the first Christian pop star
Several other events, exhibits and church services are also taking place across Germany to mark the anniversary.
Last night, members of Berlin's protestant youth organization nailed their own theses to the doors of around 300 churches in the German capital. Berlin state youth pastor Sarah Oltmanns told protestant news angency EPD that the youths prepared their church reform suggestions for two years in workshops and other events. (ontinueReading
No comments:
Post a Comment