Bohemia and Moravia
The Moravian Church was founded around 1415. That year, the Czech MA and theologian Jan Hus was burnt at the stakes in Constance as a heretic. During the following years, the number of supporters for Jan Hus increased to such an extent that the Catholic Church felt it’s position as the supreme church threatened. The result was a regular warfare against the supporters of Hus’ thoughts.
The Catholic Church succeeded in neutralizing the supporters of Jan Hus, and the hussites were divided into several minor fractions, that still met in secret. One such group was allowed to settle down in an area in Saxony belonging to count Zinzendorf. In a matter of few years they established a town, which in 1722 was named Herrnhut (the helmet of the Lord). Within a few years the city grew to be a gathering place, not only for the Bohemian and Moravian brothers but also for other people and groups, who stood up against the official theological conventions.
Development of a religious society
On August 13th, 1727, a revival came and created consensus among the many different theological directions and beliefs in Herrnhut, and at the same time the members learned to love each other as brothers and sisters despite their differences. This date is recognised as the founding date for the renewed Moravian Church. This love to one another became foundational for the development into a communal society where the members took care of each other, organized schools for the children, housing and working fellowships for the singles, i.e. widows as well as unmarried sisters and brothers. The same year the brothers, encouraged by Zinzendorf, who himself was active in the process, began to spread out to other European countries as emissaries for ”The Good News”.
Assemblies in DK
Zinzendorf’s own journey to Denmark participating in the coronation ceremony of King Christian VI in 1730 was of great importance. Not only did he attract a considerable attention to the new thoughts through the many assemblies held at that time. He did also found the mission work of the Moravian Church.
The same year (1730) the travellers brothers (the Moravians) found good relations to a group of people in the village of Stepping, 8 km west of Christiansfeld. They began the building of a society in Stepping and this place became a basic point for spreading of the Gospel that was heard almost wherever the brothers went. And in fact this spreading of the Gospel became the basic in the upcoming of the renewed revival from the Pietism.
From Stepping to Christiansfeld
After many years of growth the brothers felt that it was time to initiate an independent congregation instead of the society in Stepping. Since the brothers were known as just and trustworthy workers, they were allowed to by the old royal farm ”Tyrstrupgård”. At the fields of this farm, the city of Christiansfeld is founded. Since the area at that time were badly developed in terms of trades and crafts, it was from the government’s part regarded as a sort of regional development project; hence the brothers were relieved from taxes and conscription for a period of 10 years. Besides this, the town was given municipal charter, which meant that the town commercial wasn’t a subject to the city of Haderslev.
The Moravian City and society in Christiansfeld
It turned out to be a good investment! During the ten years from the foundation of first house in 1773 in Christiansfeld and until the special priviledges expired, the entire current center of the town around the church hall with the choir houses, vicar houses and independent family houses were finished. In the years approaching 1800 the town grew fast and strongly with two large schools, tradehouse and small industries in all trades. The number of citizens was around 600.
The 20th century
Today the Moravian Congregation consists of approximately 300 members. Of these about 150 are living in Christiansfeld and the surrounding area and the remaining lives different places in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Moravian Church is an evangelical church with the same confession as the National Danish Evangelical-Lutheran Church.
The Danish Moravian Mission (Brødremenighedens Danske Mission/BDM) was founded by the Moravian Congregation in Christiansfeld in 1843. Through all the years the Congregation has supported mission in several countries - alone or in partnership with other Moravian churches in the world. In the Moravian Congregations there is considerable room for foreign mission, and BDM is one of the oldest mission agencies in Denmark.
Today
In these years BDM is strongly involved in Tanzania, whereto missionaries and volunteers are sent. The newest mission work is the congregational building in Albania since 1993. In Ramallah, Palestine, BDM is supporting a home for disabled children in jointly with other European Moravian Congregations.
Knud Elmo Knudsen
Moravian missionary in Tanzania
