The teachings and dissent of John Wycliffe found greater support in Bohemia because it was joined to a strong national party led by John Hus. The Czech reformer came from peasant parents in southern Bohemia, a small town called Husinetz. When Hus was burned on 6 July 1415 the Bohemian rebellion, as it came to be called, refused to die with him. It developed a moderate and a militant wing. The moderates were called Utraquists, a term from Latin for "both" since their primary protest called for freedom to receive Communion in both the bread and the cup. The militants were called Taborites after the city in Bohemia that served as their chief stronghold. These followers of Hus struggled against the Roman Church and the German Empire until several wars reduced their number and influence. Yet despite the best efforts of the papacy to bring an end to the Bohemian

The Czech reformer from southern Bohemia (Husinetz). He studied theology at the University of Prague, earning both a B.A. (1394) and the M.A. (1396) before beginning his teaching in the faculty of arts and plunging into the reform cause. After his ordination and appointment as rector and preacher at Bethlehem Chapel he came upon Wycliffe's religious writings. He adopted at once the English reformer's view of the church and began to circulated Wycliffe's teachings, including his criticisms of the abuses of power in the papacy. Drawing heavily upon Wycliffe, he wrote his major work, On the Church. On his arrival at the Council of Constance he found himself a victim of the Inquisition. He lay imprisoned in Constance for eight months. On July 6, 1415 Hus was burned for heresy.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, history, Inquisition, John-Hus, Wycliffe, Reformation[/tags]

Also called the Bohemian Brethren (Unitas Fratrum). The brethren flourished in Bohemia and Moravia at the time of the Reformation but had been nearly crushed during the Thirty Years War, and were subject to severe persecution. Under Moravian carpenter, Christian David, the Brethren had experienced the stirring of revival and were casting about for some place of refuge in Protestant lands. They eventually found it on Count von Zinzendorf's estates, and in 1722 David established a community there called Herrnhut.

[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Herrnhut, history, Hussites, Reformation, Thirty-Years-War, John-Hus[/tags]

The Moravians were the spiritual descendants of Jan Hus. Driven from their homeland during the Thirty Years' War, they were scattered throughout Europe and lost many members. But a few remained to hold services in secret and pray for the rebirth of their Church of the United Brethren. In 1722, a little company of Moravians settled in Saxony, on Zinzendorf's estate, to escape widespread persecution. The party was led by Christian David, a convert from Roman Catholicism, who is said to have "burned with zeal like an oven".

The Community on Zenzendorf's land was named Herrnhut (The Lord's Watch) and became a haven for Protestant refugees from all parts of Germany as well as from Moravia and Bohemia. Count Zinzendorf himself entered the community and played a major role in shaping the Moravian influence and growth.

There are clear links between the renewed Moravian community and the Evangelical

When Philip Spener (1635-1705) preached from the Sermon on the Mount in 1669 (after several years of ministry) in Frankfort, revival broke out among his parishioners. Soon Spener gathered a little company of dedicated believers in his house twice weekly for reading of Scripture and religious conversion. These meetings were soon called in scorn "gatherings of the pious", and "Pietism" was born. In his introduction to Johann Arndt's published sermons, Spener recommended the establishment of Bible study groups for spiritual development; a strenuous, rather ascetic Christian life; greater care for the Christian character of theological students; and simpler and more spiritual preaching. Later, with Spener and Hermann Francke at the new University of Halle, the Pietist movement really got afoot. The university became the hub of a host of Pietist ministries.

The later phase of Pietism is dominated by Count von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) when the remains of the old

The great religious revolution called the Reformation broke out in 1517, but it is necessary to go back at least one hundred years to understand what caused it. The Reformation is often seen as a response to the corruption found in the Roman Catholic Church, and while this is true to a degree, the real roots of the Reformation are grounded the Church's official sanction of said corruption. Which is altogether an entirely different matter.

For all its ideals, piety, and art, Catholicism differed from the New Testament in doctrine, morals, and administration. Most men and women of conscience realized this, and called with increasing urgency for "reform in head and members". Some — such as Jan Hus, the Bohemian disciple of John Wycliffe — would not wait for Rome to reform herself, but separated from the unity of the Roman Catholic church for the honor of Christ and his gospel.

[tags]BlogRodent,