2013: 450th Anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism
“Power of faith”: Jubilee exhibition in the Kurpfälzisches Museum and the Ottheinrich Building of the Heidelberg Palace from 12 May to 15 September 2013
The year 2013 marks the 450th anniversary of the appearance of the Heidelberg Catechism, a landmark doctrinal document in the history of the reformed church. Following its endorsement by the Dordrecht Synod in 1619, it was disseminated throughout the world and became the symbol of change and the new era in Europe, America and Asia.
The Heidelberg Catechism is associated with a time of awakening, renewal and a search for meaning that was to leave its mark on the 16th and 17th century. The radiation of that new reforming spirit penetrated all levels of society and moulded the awareness of life that the people had at the onset of the new epoch. Along with Geneva and Leyden, Heidelberg with its court life, then at its zenith, and its university, housing the famous Bibliotheca Palatina, formed the intellectual centre of European Calvinism.
It is planned to celebrate the jubilee with a joint exhibition project on the subject of the Heidelberg Catechism at three locations: in the Heidelberg Palace, in the Kurpfälzisches Museum in the city of Heidelberg and in the Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn (Netherlands). The cooperation partners are Staatliche Schlösser & Gärten Baden-Württemberg (SSG), the Kurpfälzisches Museum of the city of Heidelberg (KMH), the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, the Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Johannes A Lasco Library in Emden and the international Refo500 project.
Each of the various exhibition locations is to have its own specific themes.
The central topic in the Netherlands is to be the practice and history of religion under Orange rule.
In Heidelberg Palace, the spotlight is to focus on the Prince Electors and their politics, life at court and claims to occupy a forefront position. In the course of the change in faith, the Electorate of the Palatinate realigned its stance in imperial and foreign policy.
The Kurpfälzisches Museum in Heidelberg is dealing with the academic aspects and is placing the Heidelberg Catechism in the context of the time of its establishment. Amongst the contentious issues of the day was the struggle over pure doctrine. The Heidelberg theologians played a pioneering part in that controversy.
“Power of faith” is the title of an exhibition to be held from 12 May to 15 September 2013 featuring various top-ranking exhibits kindly lent from Germany and abroad and combined with items held in collections based in Heidelberg and the metropolitan region. It is to be accompanied by a publication in several languages containing articles on the history and adoption of the Heidelberg Catechism, along with a catalogue.
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