When walking through Eisenach, Germany it is impossible to overlook its connection to Martin Luther. You can see a big statue of him on the Karlsplatz, you can visit a house where he was once living (Lutherhaus) and you can visit the Wartburg castle where he translated the Bible from Latin to German.
Martin Luther was a monk and professor of theology. He was born in Eisleben, Germany most probably in 1482. To prepare for his studies he moved to Eisenach and began to study at Erfurt. He came into conflict with the Catholic church – especially about the option to receive relief for sins by paying money. He distributed his 95 theses about the church and became excommunicated in 1521.
Luther went to the Wartburg castle at Eisenach and used the pseudonym ‚Junker Jörg‘ to remain undiscovered. By that time the Bible was only available in Latin language and many people couldn’t read it. During his time on the Wartburg Luther translated it to German and made it widely readable. He was the starting point for the so called Reformation of the church and the creation of a more modern Protestant branch of the Christian church.
But it should also not be forgotten that Martin Luther also made antijudaic statements and asked to burn down synagogues. Unforgivable statements that have to be judged with a view on the context and his time. Luther died in 1546 at Eisleben at the age of 64.
Lutherdenkmal
Eisenach
Germany
Loading map...
