7/8 - Wittenberg

We've arrived in Wittenberg, where we will be staying for the next five nights. I am most glad to unpack my bag and let all my clothes just, hang out. My roommate may have a different perspective on this.

Our day began with breakfast and a short walk to the Luther House museum. (Just a quick note - most everything thus far in Wittenberg is walking distance.) Luther's House in Wittenberg was gifted to him by Prince Frederick the Wise. It was formerly the Augustinian monastery, but because of the Reformation, the monks moved out. And though they moved out, Luther was never alone. While he was still teaching, various professors and teachers stayed here with him.

It was from conversations around meals at the table that many of the personal details of Luther's personality and other salient details were recorded by Luther's students from these "table talks".

The unmentioned, yet critically important person in the Reformation was Luther's wife, Katie.

Though their ages were twenty years apart, they were quite in love with one another even though their marriage began as one of practicality than romance. She was the keeper of the house, chef of the meals, family accountant, and head brewer. Even though she was not documented within Luther's table talks, she had her own seat in the room and her own voice to be heard. She was quite the woman, and Luther knew it. Only a few years prior to his death, he commissioned a portico to be built for her as a gift in appreciation for all she was to Luther, the family, Wittenberg, and the Reformation. You see it as having two seats in each side of the entrance to the Luther's House.

Inside the Luther House was more than I could have imagined - 1st edition copies of the most important documents from the Reformation. The Large Catechism,

the Augsburg Confession,

The Freedom of the Christian,

The Babylonian Captivity of the Church,

and Luther's translation of the Bible.

Shakespeare is to English as Luther is to German because of his translation of the Bible from the original Greek and Hebrew to German, thus rooting the future of German culture in solidarity of a unifying language. Prior to this, there were 18 varying languages in Germany, but it was Luther's translation that gave common voice to them all in the Word of God.

From Luther's House we went to the Melanchthon House, the home of Phillip Melanchthon who was not only one of Luther's closest friends, but also the first systematic theologian and leading author of the Augsburg Confession. His home was gifted to him by Frederick the Wise as a means of coaxing him to remain in Wittenberg rather than leaving for another university.

After some free time over lunch, we gathered once again at Castle Church, the church that was attached to the residence of Frederick the Wise (thus, Castle Church, for it was also his fortress). This church was the location of Luther's posting of his 95 theses against the sale of indulgences, or payments to freedom from purgatory.

While much of this site is under renovations, we were fortunate enough to have access inside to visit the burial locations of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. Much of the interiors was replaced in the 19th century due to a fire, but is still impressive nonetheless.

I had the misfortune of accidentally standing upon Luther's head while take one of these photos.

From the Castle Church we went to the Town Church, where Luther did the majority of his preaching. The space is still used by a location congregation within Wittenberg and contains an impressive numbers of artworks to see.

Lucas Cranach the Elder was a resident artist in Wittenberg, but also one of Luther's good friends. Much of his artwork illustrates the Reformation.

Later in the afternoon we heard a presentation from Rev. Hans Kasch (translated into English, his name is Johnny Cash) and his role with the Lutheran World Federation and the construction of the Luther Garden. This garden is a green space of 500 trees planted in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The goal of these trees is to have congregations and synods throughout the world commit to planting one of these trees, with a second tree planted within the area of their home congregation, thus have a living connection to Wittenberg and the Reformation.

This evening we were supposed to hear a lecture from our tour guide about the details of Luther's Reformation, but unfortunately he fell ill. We hope he will be well enough tomorrow as we head to Leipzig.

Tschus!