Evangelical Church Of Augustan Confession In Romania

The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania (german: Evangelische Kirche A.B. ugsburgischen Bekenntnissesin Rumänien, ro, Biserica Evanghelică de Confesiune Augustană în România) is a German-speaking Lutheran church in Romania, mainly based in Transylvania. As a Lutheran church, it adheres to the Augsburg Confession. Its history goes back to the 12th century when the Transylvanian Saxons arrived in the region, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

The church has close ties to, but is distinct from, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania, which is mainly Hungarian-speaking. It also cooperates with the Calvinist Reformed Church in Romania.

History

Beginnings

The history of the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church in the territory of today's Romania finds its beginnings in the mid-16th century, through the humanist cartographer and reformer Johannes Honterus. Martin Luther's writings had been brought and spread in Transylvania as early as 1519, but the real reformation among the German Catholic population took place in 1542 (or 1543) with the publication of ''Reformationsbüchlein'' by Honterus in his own printing house in Brașov.( la, "Reformatio ecclesiae Coronensis ac totius Barcensis provinciae" (1543), german: "Reformationsbüchlein für Kronstadt und das Burzenland", ro, "Cărticica de reformă pentru Brașov și Țara Bârsei")

In 1572, the Synod of Mediasch accepted the " Augustan Confession", one of the most important doctrinal documents of Lutheranism (presented in 1530 in Augsburg), as the basis for preaching and church life.

In the semi-independent Principality of Transylvania (under Turkish control), the church enjoyed much religious freedom. However this changed when it came under Habsburg control, with the Catholic Church having privileged status.

20th century

The Lutheran German minority was highly persecuted during the communist era. The church activities were surveyed by the Securitate, its school system and the diaconal institutions were dismantled. This resulted in an increasing emigration of members. After the 1989 revolution (and the opening of the borders), many Germans left the country, which decimated the number of members in the church.

Churches

Image:Kirchenburg_Birth%C3%A4lm.jpg, One of the Lutheran fortified churches in Biertan
Image:La chiesa sulla collina.jpg, Church on the Hill, Sighișoara
Image:RO SB Saint Mary Lutheran church 1.jpg, Saint Mary Cathedral, Sibiu
Image:Biserica Neagra Brasov.JPG, Black Church, Brașov
Image:Biserica Lutherana din Bucuresti.jpg, Lutheran Church, Bucharest
Image:Valea Viilor Biserica fortificata.JPG, Valea Viilor fortified church, Sibiu County
Image:Biserica Sfantul Bartolomeu Brasov.jpg, Saint Bartholomew Church, Brașov

References

External links

Official website

Lutheranism in Romania
Religious organizations established in the 1570s
Lutheran World Federation members

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