|
The Moravian Church today is a world-wide Protestant denomination of about one million members.
Moravians have always practiced ecumenism, and the Moravian Church has many commonalities with the Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist traditions, but Moravians have their own unique traditions as well. Choral and instrumental music, congregational singing, and liturgical prayer are important elements of Moravian worship, although there is considerable variety in worship styles among the congregations.
Moravians recognize two sacraments, Baptism (including that of infants) and Holy Communion.
The Moravian Church began in 1457, a century before the Lutheran Reformation, in the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia. Originally called the Unitas Fratrum (Unity of the Brethren), it thrived in the 16th century, but was almost destroyed in the religious wars of the 17th century. John Hus, Luke of Prague, and John Amos Comenius were among the leaders of the Old Brethren.
In the 1720s a few survivors of the Ancient Unity found refuge on the estate of Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, a German Lutheran nobleman. He became their patron, their renewer, and their spiritual leader, and under his guidance the Moravians began evangelistic efforts in Europe and mission work in the wider world.
Until the middle of the 19th century the Moravian Church was primarily a mission society working through the European state churches. As the former mission fields attained self-dependence in the latter-20th century, the Moravian Church became an international and multi-cultural community of faith. There are 19 provinces of the Moravian Church worldwide, including Tanzania, South Africa, Central America, Suriname and Guyana, the Caribbean, Alaska and Labrador, Europe, Palestine, and North India.
There are about 40,000 Moravians in 150 congregations in North America, located in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and 12 other states and Canadian provinces.
Helpful Links:
Moravian Church of North America
Subscribe to recieve the Daily Texts via email |
