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Events Calendar
Sunday | November 17th | 5:00 p.m. | Castle Church
Opening service for the 25th anniversary of the ELCA Wittenberg Center
Liturgy: Pastor Khader El-Yateem
Sermon: Pastor Bridget Gautieri
According to legend, on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his 95 theses—his ideas and criticisms of the Church—to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. His ideas were so influential that they transformed the Church. They ultimately led to the founding of the Protestant Church—which is why this day is so important to us. On Reformation Day, Christians celebrate Martin Luther's courage in initiating the reform of the Church and the freedom that faith grants to every individual.
The Thesis Door
According to tradition, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in Latin on this door, inviting scholars to debate them. The purpose of this debate was to clarify whether the Church's practice of selling indulgences was in accordance with the teachings of Jesus. This marked the beginning of the Reformation. The original wooden "Thesis Door" was destroyed in the great fire that ravaged the church in 1760. In 1858, King Frederick William IV of Prussia donated the current bronze door, on the panels of which the Latin text of the theses is cast.
Introduction to Philipp Spielmann
I look forward to exploring the beautiful surroundings of Wittenberg by bike, to beautiful church services, musical highlights, old and new songs, and to meeting you!
History
Around 1340, the Ascanian dukes had an "All Saints' Chapel" built at their castle and founded a collegiate monastery in it for liturgical service. Elector Friedrich the Wise had the palace with the chapel demolished and his new residential palace with a more spacious palace church built on the site. You can find out more about the story here.
Church for children
Every Sunday there is a children's service in the Wittenberg Castle Church, parallel to the adult service. Ms. Felicia Grauel is one of the volunteers for the children's service.