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Proud and historic legacy

Established by refugees escaping the Catholic Counter-Reformation in Bohemia and Moravia, Herrnhut, now a recognized World Heritage Site, originated.

Prosperous Legacy Unveiled
Prosperous Legacy Unveiled

Proud and historic legacy

In a significant recognition of cultural and spiritual exchange, the small Saxon town of Herrnhut near the German-Polish border has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This extension was an expansion of the World Heritage Site status already granted in 2015 to the Moravian settlement of Christiansfeld in Denmark.

The Moravian Church Settlements nomination utilized UNESCO criteria (iii) and (iv) for their World Heritage Site status, reflecting the transnational scope and consistency of the international Moravian community as a global network of a socio-religious system. Each Moravian settlement, including Herrnhut, has a unique architectural character based on the ideals of the Moravian Church, adapted to local conditions.

Herrnhut was established by refugees fleeing from the Catholic Counter-Reformation in Bohemia and Moravia. Under the inspirational leadership of Count Nicolas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf, the Herrnhut community began sending out missionaries in 1732, six decades before William Carey went to India. This missionary spirit was a defining characteristic of the Moravians, who, by the time of Zinzendorf's death in 1760, had sent out more missionaries than all other Protestant churches combined.

The Moravians, spiritual followers of Jan Hus, consider themselves the first truly Protestant church. Known for their corporate lifestyle, regular love feasts, and footwashing ceremonies, the Moravian communities were unusually tolerant for their time. This tolerance is evident in the recognition of Herrnhut as a World Heritage Site, which also includes two other Moravian settlements planted from Herrnhut in the 18th century in Northern Ireland and Pennsylvania, USA.

The recognition was hailed as a 'strong sign' by the President of the German UNESCO Commission, Maria Böhmer. She saw it as symbolizing cultural and spiritual exchange across national borders and continents. The author Jeff Fountain, Director of the Schuman Centre for European Studies, has also highlighted Herrnhut's pivotal role in sending out missionaries and inspiring others like John Wesley and Willam Carey. His book, 'the little town that blessed the world', focuses on this aspect of Herrnhut's history.

Zinzendorf would instruct those being sent to be "the sort of persons that would make others ask, 'what sort of God makes people like you?'" This missionary spirit continues to this day, with Herrnhut being a regular stopover on the Continental Heritage Tours led by Romkje and the author. The book was presented at the Festival of the Nations in 2007 when hundreds of YWAMers from across Europe converged on Herrnhut.

The transnational World Heritage Site may be further expanded to include other Moravian communities, such as Königsveld in Germany's Black Forest or Zeist in the Netherlands. The recognition of Herrnhut as a World Heritage Site is a testament to its rich history and the enduring impact of the Moravian Church on global Christianity.

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