Wittenberg celebrates 500 years of Luther's scandalous wedding with a big party!

Wittenberg celebrates 500 years of Luther's scandalous wedding with a big party!

A big festival was celebrated in Wittenberg on the occasion of the 500th wedding anniversary of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora, which attracted numerous visitors. The event, titled “Luther’s Wedding,” featured a dazzling program that honored the highs and lows of this historic marriage. A particularly impressive element was the historical parade, in which around 2,000 participants took part to bring the time of the Reformation to life. How ref.ch According to reports, numerous clubs also gathered during the city festival to commemorate this important era at the original locations.

In addition, the Wittenberg superintendent Gabriele Metzner held a service that was broadcast from the city church. In her speech she emphasized the symbolism of the wedding. This was rather controversial at the time, as it was considered a scandal that a former monk married a nun. “This wedding was more of a confession than a love story,” explained Metzner, while Wittenberg pastor Anne Brisgen added that Luther’s marriage to Katharina represents his belief in making women more visible in society.

Katharina von Bora and the circumstances of the wedding

The marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora was celebrated on June 13, 1525 in a modest setting and was surrounded by skepticism. Luther's opponents and some friends expressed concerns about the marriage decision, and even Philipp Melanchthon, Luther's closest comrade-in-arms, was not present and expressed critical views on this step. Initially, the connection between Katharina, who had previously fled the Nimbschen monastery, was a pragmatic solution for both of them. Katharina had previously rejected several marriage offers until she finally found her partner in Martin Luther. Even though the marriage took place quickly after the engagement and was celebrated with only a few witnesses, the relationship soon developed into a real love story. Cathedral radio emphasizes that the wedding was considered a significant statement in society at the time.

In the years after their wedding, Luther and von Bora supported each other. While Luther wrote his writings, Katharina took care of the household and the children. She was not only his wife, but also his equal partner, who had his back and was significantly involved in his dinner conversations. The role of women in the Reformation is repeatedly referred to, and National Geographic makes it clear that the Reformation was by no means solely Luther's project, but that Katharina von Bora played a significant role in it.

A legacy that lasts

On the occasion of the anniversary, Katharina von Bora's original wedding ring was on display in the exhibition rooms of the Luther Museum. This ring, originally on loan from the Leipzig City Museum, will be shown in Wittenberg until August 10th. It shows an unusual design with motifs of Christ's torture instruments and is believed to have been a gift from the Danish King Christian II to Luther. Cathedral radio emphasizes that both golden weddings and the rare weddings of grace are celebrated in Wittenberg, but the wedding of Luther and Bora has its own significance that still resonates today.

The 500 years after the wedding are viewed with both joy and thoughtfulness. It turns out that Katharina von Bora is remembered not only as the wife of Martin Luther, but also as a woman who found her role in a world dominated by men. The celebrations in Wittenberg make it clear once again that behind every great movement there are often strong women whose stories should be told.