Wittenberg, the city where Martin Luther famously nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Schlosskirche, launched a decade of events this weekend to celebrate the German reformer who forever changed the face of Christianity.
Luther Decade was opened on Saturday with a re-enactment of Luther's arrival in the city, where he came in 1508 to continue his theological studies.
A church service will be held on Sunday with a sermon delivered by the president of the Lutheran World Federation, Mark Hanson.
As part of Luther Decade, concerts, exhibitions and lectures will be among the events taking place in the years leading up to 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
In an interview with German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine, the head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper said that Catholics should read Luther's Bible commentaries and "hymns full of spiritual power".
He also said that Protestantism would do well to return to the faith of Martin Luther, who he said "would have been deeply averse to all of today's liberal tendencies", according to Ecumenical News International.
The launch of Luther Decade comes just ahead of the opening of the international Calvin Year, or 'Calvin 09', by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches in Geneva on 2 November 2008.
-
Megachurch pastor criticises Disney's ‘Snow White’ remake for abandoning biblical themes
-
Quakers respond to police raid with worship meeting outside Scotland Yard
-
Evangelicals troubled by CoE's same-sex stance urged to consider alternative spiritual oversight
-
Mel Gibson’s ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ to begin filming in Italy this August
-
Why I pray outside abortion clinics
-
Is the British media anti-Christian and anti-conservative?
Most Popular
News
Mary Berry says her Christian faith sustained her after son’s tragic death
Beloved queen of cakes and former Great British Bake-Off judge, Dame Mary Berry, has spoken movingly about how her Christian faith was deepened and became her anchor following the tragic loss of her teenage son, William, more than three decades ago.
Russell Brand, born-again Christian and media personality, charged with rape and sexual assault
He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 2 May.
Christian nurse who refused to call convicted paedophile a woman is suspended
A Christian NHS nurse has been suspended after she went public about a disciplinary investigation over her refusal to refer to a biologically male paedophile as a woman.
YWAM responds to allegations of spiritual abuse
YWAM has said it is "deeply sorry" after The Observer published a report in which former members alleged that they were subjected to strict controls, pressure and spiritual abuse.