Church history - Lutherstadt Wittenberg (The Door) and Eisenach

We took a few days to go to Berlin. On our way to Berlin we spent about 1/2 day in Lutherstadt Wittenberg - the city where Martin Luther lived, taught, preached and the location of the church where he allegedly posted his 95 theses on The Door. Lutherstadt Wittenberg is in former East Germany and this was our first foray into the former GDR. Although it was obvious that the former GDR was becoming "Westernized" (McDonald's, IKEA, etc. had popped up in many towns), we all commented on the lack of color and "gray" feel. It was clear that this was different than the Germany we have been getting to know (former West Germany). Some of the towns still had the high-rise apartment buildings built by the GDR that you might picture when you think of the former East Germany. Wittenberg, though, seemed to have benefited from tourism and seemed less economically depressed than many of the towns through which we drove. The visit to Lutherstadt Wittenberg was an incredible experience! Here are some highlights...


A view of Wittenberg with the University Church or Schlosskirche in the background. This is the church with "The Door".

The Wittenberg Door with the 95 theses in bronze. The original door was destroyed in a fire. In the time of Martin Luther, the door was supposedly used as a University message board. Whether Martin Luther actually posted his 95 theses on this door is still an issue for debate.























Martin Luther is buried in the Schlosskirche.
This is his gravestone in the middle of the church.




The inside of the Schlosskirche
















The door to the Stadtkirche St Marien or City Church. Martin Luther preached most often in this church and it was here that the first Protestant worship service was held in 1521. This was also the church in which Luther got married.




On the backside of the alter in the Stadtkirche is this faded painting with many initials carved into it. On one side of the painting is souls in heaven and on the other side, souls in purgatory. Long ago, University students who passed their exams carved their initials in the heaven half and those that failed carved theirs in the purgatory half.






Joseph at the Luther museum which is located in his home.









This is what remains of Luther's study.








This is the Luthereiche (Luther's Oak), the spot where he burned the papal bull that threatened his excommunication.

Our day in Lutherstadt Wittenberg ended with an English worship service in the Stadtkirche. For 6 months out of every year a group of American Lutheran pastors come to Wittenberg for 2 weeks at a time as an outreach. They hold English worship services on Saturday evenings and have weekly Bible studies and prayer. The service ended with the congregation singing "A Mighty Fortress is Our God". We were reminded of the worldview change that came with "Through grace alone, through faith alone, through Scripture alone"! It was very moving!






On our way home from Berlin we stopped in Eisenach. (Which, we discovered on a sign as we entered the city, is a sister city to of all places Waverly, IA!) Eisenach is home to Wartburg Castle. Wartburg is a magnificent medieval castle to which Luther was brought (kidnapped by friends/supporters) when the pope issued his excommunication. Here, Luther finished translating the New Testament into German and wrote many of his important works and hymns.