Church History

By TheMoeyWhoNeverWorries
  • Dec 24, 1517

    1517

    Luther circulated his 95 Theses, which were
    posted on the door of the Wittenberg Castle
    church. The document contained an attack on
    papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by
    church officials.
  • Dec 24, 1518

    1518

    When Luther refused to take back his attack,
    Pope Leo X issued a statement outlining the
    Church ’s doctrine on indulgences, and
    condemning Luther’s ideas.
  • Dec 24, 1519

    1519

    Luther wrote to Pope Leo X, stating that it was
    not his intention to question the authority of
    the Pope or the Church. The impact of the
    Luther– Rome dispute began to grow.
  • Dec 24, 1520

    1520

    By this time Luther had the support of many of
    the German nobility. Pope Leo X gave him 60
    days to recant or face excommunication. As his
    books were being burned in cities throughout
    Germany, Luther published an open letter to
    Pope Leo X, apologising to the Pope
    personally, but continuing to denounce what
    he saw as false doctrine and corruption in the
    Church.
  • Dec 24, 1521

    1521

    Luther was excommunicated, and summoned
    to the city of Worms to appear before a hearing
    at which he still refused to take back his attack
    on the Church. On his way back to Wittenberg,
    he was captured by supporters disguised as
    bandits and taken to safety in Wittenberg castle.
  • Dec 24, 1522

    1522

    The next two years saw Luther preaching
    throughout central Germany.
  • Dec 24, 1524

    1524

    Luther was banished by the Church and
    the Emperor, but by this time he had
    great popular support. By now, certain
    groups without Luther’s agreement,
    we re using his ideas as a reason for
    re volution. Luther left his re l i g i o u s
    order and married, continuing his
    writing and denouncing the groups that
    we re using his ideas as an excuse for
    criminal acts.
  • Dec 24, 1530

    1530

    Many German princes and cities signed a
    document called the Augsburg
    Confession as an expression of the new
    Protestant faith.
  • Dec 24, 1546

    1546

    Luther died aged 62.
  • Dec 24, 1555

    1555

    Each German prince was given the right
    to choose the religion of his own
    territory. As a result, the Reformation
    swept through Northern and Eastern
    Europe.
    Extension