ML500 - WITTENBERG Castle Church

WITTENBERG

is  a  highlight  for  all  Reformation  pilgrims
especially  on  this  ..  500th Anniversary

Initial  impression  surprised us  with  a
completely  unique  looking   ..   train  station

Striking  out  down   "Collegianstrasse"   ( about  3/4  mile  long )
we  think  we've  spotted  the
C A S T L E     C H U R C H
( Church  of  All  Saints )

This  Castle  Church  (Wittenberg)  was  the  site  of
one  of  the  most  important  moments  in
European  ( and  WORLD ) history: 
Luther nailing his  95  theses  to the church door
October 31, 1517  ..  the  night before  the heavily attended  ..  All Saints Day Service !

2   " Norskies "
in  front  of  the 
famous  door 
where  Luther  posted  95  Discussion  Questions
for his  ..  university students  ..  to  Debate

( little did Luther know what  storm  a  ..  simple  scrap  of  paper  ..  would incite ! )

This  news  reporter  is  gathering  info  to  bring  home  to  Norway
about  the  500th  Anniversary  of  that  seemingly  simple  deed

In  German  ..   on  the  ..   Castle Tower
the  Inscription  ..
"A   MIGHTY  FORTRESS   IS   OUR  GOD"
The  most  famous  of  all  the  many  Hymns  Luther  wrote   .. 

Castle  Church  ..   INTERIOR  NAVE
( many  tour  groups  coming  and  going  with  their  guides )

The  Chancel  ..
with
MOSES   ( left )      JESUS   ( center )     ST.  PAUL   ( right )

From  center  aisle  ..  looking  the  opposite  way

LUTHER   and   MELANCHTHON
pictured  ..  on  a  side  wall

The  EXTERIOR   ..   from  behind
showing  attached  classrooms  and  office  space.
Luther  (Catholic)  taught  here  many  years.

Look  closely  ..  you'll  find  ..
 Martin  Luther's  name   ..   plus   ..   Theologian   ..   plus   ..   Corpse
with  an   earlier   ..   spelling   and  an   earlier  . .  script

Luther  ..  is   buried  here  in  this  ..  Church   of  All  Saints
( though  he  died  in  ..   Eisleben   ..  where  he  was  born  &  baptized )
( he  had  traveled  there  to  Eisleben  ..  to  help  settle  a  dispute 
and  never  did  make  it  back  to  Wittenberg  alive  ..  he  himself  was  too  ill )

Philipp  Melanchthon
is   also  buried  here   ..   Luther  on  left  ..  Melanchthon  on  right
( in  front  of  the  Chancel )
Melanchthon  was  a  very  close  friend  of  Luther's,  
and  a  colleague  here  also  at  Wittenberg  University
He  continued  Martin's  Reformation  work  after  Luther  died.

Quite  a  wide  variety  of  " looks "   .    Photography  was  ..  non - existent
Individual  painters  portrayed  people  as  best  they  could

We  made  it  to  Wittenberg on  Friday  ..  so  we'd  be  sure  to  get  in  on  the
ONE  service  in  ENGLISH  on  Saturday  5 p.m.
( We  later  discovered  .. 
we  were  sitting  right  behind  Napoleon, Ohio  acquaintances
  of  our  1960s  friends  when  we  lived  in  Columbus  ..  
at  the  time  each  of  our  'first - borns'  arrived !!
  
The  guest  pastor   ( at  this  Friday service )  used  as  his  text
..   a  little - known  ..  multi - verse  hymn  Luther  wrote  ..
practical  words  revealing  Luther  knew  his  parishioners  well
and  cared  deeply  about  them

This  Alabaman  married  a  guy  from  Tennessee.
They  are  on  a  (Baptist)  Medical  Mission  in   ..  Ethiopia
living  in   ..   Addis Ababa
Their  1st  born  is  a  girl  named   ..  "PEARL"
Their  1st  son  they  named  ..   "LUTHER"
Their  2nd  son  is  named  ..   "CALVIN"
and  then  came  ..   "KNOX"
( after   3  Reformers )  ..
So  being  in  Germany  for  the  500th  is  very  special
for  this  whole  family )

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There's  much  to  include  about
Luther  and  his  wife  ..   Katherina Von Bora
We'll  divide  it  into  smaller  pieces
and  send  this  part  on  its  way

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Sunny  weather  has  disappeared.   Occasional  drizzle.   Temps  have  gone  down.
Sort  of  Seattle - like  ..  dampish  chilly

We're  " Up  North "
again  trying  to  catch  "blogs"  up  ..  with  our  actual   ' whereabouts '

Have  added  something  into  our  itinerary  that  we  weren't  sure  we'd  have  time  for.
It  makes  us  think  of  Kienbergers  who  lived  nearby  here  ( years  ago )
and  son  Steve  who  just  returned  to  Astoria, Oregon  after  20 yrs  here  in  Germany.
Also  brings  to  mind  Tim  and  Hanna  ..
she  grew  up  somewhere  close  to  where  we  are  now
Plus  Loeda  Meyer's  husband  "Horst"  was  born  &  raised
in  this  (northwest)  part  of  Germany
( Hmmm  ..  where  could  Rusty  and  Wrinkles  be ?? )

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Emergency  change  of  plans 
..  broke  wrist  (& more)  at  train  station  ..   in  Bremen  ..
( transfer  point  on  way  to  ..  Bremerhaven )
( Standing still  ..  I  was  knocked  down  by  hurried  teens  rushing  to  board  their  train )  
 ..  so  we're  heading  home.  

We've  been  in  Berlin  a  few  days  and  decided  to  add  on  to  our  itinerary
   the  big  new  museum  in  ..  Bremerhaven  ..  
that  tells  the  story  of  people 
"emigrating"  from  Europe  ..  in the late  1800s   and early  1900s 
escaping  tragedies  of  various  kinds  ..
  heading  to  ..   America !   
✦   It's  the  "opposite - end"  ..  of  the  
..   New  York  Harbor  ..  " Ellis  Island "  story !   

 ..   (Can't promise  'when')   ..  but  many  more  things  remain  left  out  ..  unfinished.   

Meanwhile  we'll  post  ..  already  prepared .. 
" Luther  Would  Be  Amazed ! "  
( next  blog )
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