Vox Lucens

Katie and I spent some time last night discussing when the Reformation actually began. You can certainly make an argument that it goes all the way back to Wycliffe and Hus (indeed, Wycliffe has been called the “Morning Star of the Reformation”), but it did not truly take off as a groundswell for another hundred years.

And at that time, there is really no doubt as to the spark that lit the fire - Luther’s 95 Theses, which he nailed to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg.

The site of the nailing (these bronze doors replaced the original wooden ones).

The home given to the Luthers by Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony.

An original indulgence collection box - the very issue that prompted Luther’s writings.

Luther’s preaching pulpit.

The wooden table where Luther discussed theology with his students, leading to his famous “Table Talks.”

We’re back in the US now, trying to get caught up…and plowing through with the pictures.

After Rothenburg, our next stop was the Wartburg Castle. I knew Wartburg as the place where Luther was taken after being kidnapped by his friends for his own protection. Little did I know the grandeur and deeper history of this amazing castle!

Built on the side of a cliff for defensive reasons, the castle overlooks the city of Eisenach. Building was begun in 1068, and in the 13th century was home to St. Elisabeth of Hungary.

The inside is no less grand then the exterior.

One nice thing about these castles is that they are never over-decorated, say, by taking millions of little glass pieces and making the whole room a mosaic…

But even that cannot compare to the Grand Hall.

In this castle was set the story of the Battle of the Minstrels, later memorialized by Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser (R. Wagner just keeps popping up!).

But in spite of the grandeur of the castle, its crowning jewel was this tiny room, the Lutherstübe, wherein Luther spent months translating the New Testament into the common German. Standing in this tiny room was nothing short of surreal.

Having spent the last two days in London, and with the trip drawing to its inevitable close, it seems so long ago that we were in Germany. Looking at these pictures is already bringing back memories…

We fell in love with the beautiful medieval walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Hopefully these show you a little of the “why.”

Geneva was, of course, a focus on John Calvin’s work. The trip through Lucerne gave us a chance to see some of the fantastic sights, and then we were back on the Reformation trail. After a couple days without Internet, I’m way behind (we’re in England, having toured Germany, the Netherlands, and Scotland) but we’ll keep plugging along on the pictures!

Next stop, Zurich and Ulrich Zwingli’s Grossmünster.

Zurich from the tower.

Richard Wagner apparently once remarked that Grossmünster looked like salt and pepper shakers. That’s OK, though - if these look like salt and pepper shakers, we won’t say what Brumhilde sounds like.

Then, a visit to Constance, Germany, where this understated rock marks the place where John Huss was martyred.

And the whirlwind continues!

I have had an incredible number of wholly unexpected technical problems in the past couple of days, so I am hoping that this blog post gives a glimpse of a few pictures without being completely misformatted.

Tech problems notwithstanding, we have had an incredible time thus far - I’m way behind on posting, but that’s probably OK as I’m well behind on editing, too. These shots are from two days ago, when we were thoroughly enjoying the absolute beauty of Lucerne, Mt. Pilatus, and Switzerland in general. Enjoy.

Lucerne

Museggmauer, a 14th century fortification for Lucerne

I never cease to be amazed at how much you can see in a couple of short hours. We didn’t have much time in Geneva, but we used that time well. Here’s evidence…

Geneva is a stunning mix of the old and new. Here, St. Pierre’s towers above the modern shopping district.

The famous Jet D’eau by day.

St. Pierre’s Cathedral - the church John Calvin preached at for decades.

Calvin’s pulpit.

A little cafe we passed on the tour…and later returned to for some fantastic fondue.

The centerpiece of the Reformation Wall (my apologies to William Farel for the shadow obscuring his face).

Roger Williams at the Reformation Wall.

An unexpected highlight - getting to read an original 1602 Geneva Bible.

Tomorrow on the bus I hope to edit and prepare some shots from our fantastic day in and around the place for which Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata got its nickname…