As a Lutheran, I could not pass up the opportunity to make a day trip to Wittenberg. Here is where Martin Luther lived and where he posted his 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences. We were able to visit many sites of importance in Luther's life. On our walk through town, we, by chance, passed by the Luther Oak. In the 1500s the site was used to burn the clothes of plague victims. Luther, however, used it in 1520 to burn his letter of warning of excommunication from Pope Leo X.
Our next stop was at Corpus Christi Chapel. Here, in 1518, is where Luther appealed to the Pope to retract his accusation of heresy against Luther.
Adjacent to the chapel is the Church of St. Mary. This was Luther's home church--he was married here, preached here, and his children were baptized here. It was very special to walk the aisles of this church and imagine Luther giving a sermon from the pulpit. I was surprised by how large the alter area was and how much art was displayed on the walls.
From St. Mary's, we made our way to All Saint's Church. Unfortunately, the church was under construction so we could not go inside. We were, however, able to view what I was most looking forward to seeing: the door where Luther nailed his 95 Theses in 1517. I was moved to see the place where the Reformation began. I couldn't help but stare in awe of the bronze doors which, since 1858, have displayed the Theses. How incredible that the church where one man protested 500 years ago is now part of a worldwide denomination based on those ideals.
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