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Bethlehem Chapel, Prague
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Bethlehem Chapel

Bethlehem Chapel, Prague

Jan Hus · Czech Republic

A century before Luther, the priest and university master Jan Hus preached in this chapel in Czech, the language of the people, to crowds of up to 3,000. He criticised the sale of indulgences and the wealth of the clergy and called the church back to the Bible. Summoned to the Council of Konstanz with a promise of safe conduct, he was arrested and burned at the stake in 1415. Today's chapel is a faithful reconstruction from the 1950s, with his texts painted on the walls.

Did you know?

'Hus' means goose in Czech. A saying attributed to him, that after the goose would come a swan, was later linked to Luther.

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An inspiring story

Preaching in the people's language

What is the truth worth to you?

In the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, Jan Hus preached in Czech, not Latin, to crowds of up to three thousand ordinary people. He spoke out against the sale of indulgences and the wealth of the church. In 1414 he was summoned to the Council of Constance, with the emperor's promise of safe conduct. That promise was broken: he was imprisoned and told to take back his teaching. Hus said he would, if they could show him from Scripture where he was wrong. Why not simply give in and live? Because he could not say something he believed was untrue.

On 6 July 1415 he was burned. A century later Luther discovered his writings and said: we are all Hussites without knowing it.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.John 8:32

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