Reformation DayReformation Day commemorates the 95 theses which Martin Luther was said to have hammered to the door of Wittenberg City church in 1517. In Germany this day in an official holiday only in some Federal States with protestant tradition. 
Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk. First he lived in a monastery in Erfurt, until in 1514 he was called to Wittenberg as professor of Theology and preacher. Here he got confronted with the booming indulgence trade which was a common practice in the catholic church of that era. Instead of going to confession the people bought "indulgence certificates" from the priests who then promised them forgiveness of their sins. Considering this easy "forgiveness" without real remorse the people were seduced to easygoing lives - at least those who had enough money to pay the "ransom". The catholic church became increasingly rich by the indulgence trade. Martin Luther, who knew from his intensive Bible studies that people could only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God, was very much in opposition to the indulgence trade. He enclosed the 95 theses to a letter he wrote to his church superiors. 
In 1518 Martin Luther was charged with heresy and was asked in 1520 to retract his teachings. Instead he burned his Banishment Bull along with the church law book. Therefore he was excommunicated by the Pope in 1521.
By this time Luther already had so many supporters among the population that the Emperor wanted to give him a last chance. He invited him to the Imperial Diet at Worms. There Luther explained that he was only bound to the Holy Scripture and his conscience. After this statement the Emperor declared him an outlaw. Soon afterwards Luther was "kidnapped" and taken to the Wartburg.
On the Wartburg he dedicated his time to an issue which was crucial for the reformation: the translation of the Bible. Within just eleven weeks he translated the New Testament into German. The printed edition of this translation was highly demanded among the people. Later Luther also translated parts of the Old Testament until in 1534 the entire Bible in German language was published as a printed edition.
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Last update: January 18, 2009
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