The Reformed Church in Austria (Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Confession) is a
Christian denomination in
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
. The origin of the church can traced to the
Edict of Tolerance in 1781 and in 1861. The
Counter-Reformation changed this, and Evangelical worship was not permitted until the toleration act.
Some Protestants were able to survive these decades in the valleys of the mountains of
Carinthia and
Upper Austria
Upper Austria (german: Oberösterreich ; bar, Obaöstareich) is one of the nine states or of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, an ...
. In 1861 full freedom of Protestant worship and public practice were granted.
The
Calvinist
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
church traces its theological roots to
Calvin Calvin may refer to:
Names
* Calvin (given name)
** Particularly Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
* Calvin (surname)
** Particularly John Calvin, theologian
Places
In the United States
* Calvin, Arkansas, a hamlet
* Calvi ...
and
Zwingli
Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swiss mercenary system. He attended the Univ ...
. The church's name in German is (, meaning
Helvetic Confession
The Helvetic Confessions are two documents expressing the common belief of the Calvinist churches of Switzerland.
History
The First Helvetic Confession ( la, Confessio Helvetica prior), known also as the Second Confession of Basel, was drawn up in ...
).
The church has 9 congregations and 13,590 members. The church affirms the
Heidelberg Catechism,
Second Helvetic Confession
The Helvetic Confessions are two documents expressing the common belief of the Calvinist churches of Switzerland.
History
The First Helvetic Confession ( la, Confessio Helvetica prior), known also as the Second Confession of Basel, was drawn up in ...
, the
Apostles Creed and the
Nicene Creed.
Ordination of women and
blessing of same-sex marriages are allowed. It is a member of the
World Communion of Reformed Churches
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Calvinist churches in the world. It has 230 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming an estimated 80 million people, thus being the fourth-largest Chris ...
.
References
External links
church websiteHungarian Reformed parish in Oberwart, Austria
{{Authority control
Reformed denominations in Europe
Protestantism in Austria
Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches