Unitas Fratrum

Inhaltsverzeichnis

2026-05-05T07:39:50+02:00

Friedrich Bernhard Blaufuß Lebenslauf. Herausgegeben von Beata Paškevica in Zusammenarbeit mit Thomas Grunewald und Holger Zaunstöck

2026-05-05T09:20:40+02:00

Andreas Tasche: Zinzendorf und Amerika. Wie aus der Brüdergemeine eine Kirche wurd

2026-05-05T09:23:32+02:00

Unsere Geschichten neu erzählen – Der Weg zur Versöhnung

2026-05-05T07:41:18+02:00

This presentation is an historic and a pastoral reflection on the significance of Moravian missions in the Caribbean. It acknowledges the pioneer missions among enslaved peoples and affirms the Moravian work primarily in education. At the same time, it confronts the truth of the complicated relationship the Moravians had with the enslaved. While the Moravians took care of the spiritual matters, in their words and deeds they supported the European negative ideologies and demonization of Black people. Since some ofthese narratives have continued today, it is important that we have meaningful dialogue and actions towards reconciliation and the acceptance of the equality of all people.

Paul Schneider (1701–1739) in Bedrängnis

2026-05-05T07:43:35+02:00

This article is based primarily on Paul Schneider’s manuscript travelogue, which he dictated to a Moravian Brother. It covers the period from 1731 to 1736 in detail, comprising his journey, imprisonment, release from prison and second journey to Moravia. The inhumane conditions in the dungeons in Kunewald (Kunin), Neutitschein (Nový Jičín) and Brünn (Brno), where Paul was held captive, and the interrogations by judicial authorities and the clergy reflect the way in which non-Catholics (‘heretics’) were treated. Attention is also paid to Zinzendorf ’s unsuccessful attempt to get Paul released. When Paul arrived in Herrnhut against expectations and the Moravian leaders discovered that he had converted to Catholicism in order to save his life and regain his freedom, he was sent back to Moravia into prison to relieve his conscience and undo the damage he had caused to the community’s reputation. However, the Jesuit in Brno to whom Paul had said the Creed denied his request for a revocation letter and told him to leave the country. After his return to Herrnhut, Paul was again accepted into the community, but his lack of perseverance in his faith (until death) was perceived as failure. Paul Schneider died in 1739 in Heerendijk (Netherlands) while on his way to Guinea as a missionary. Given that his health was fragile anyway, the hardships during his imprisonment may well have contributed to his premature death.

Reuß-Ebersdorf im Jahr 1733

2026-05-05T07:45:57+02:00

During the early days of the Moravian Church, the relationship between Zinzendorf and Halle changed from a difference of opinion to a clear break. This change also affected the situation at the court of the Reuss family in Ebersdorf, which, as an important example of aristocratic Pietism in central Germany in the early modern period, was closely related not only to Halle but also to Zinzendorf. Herrnhut Pietism was first introduced in Ebersdorf in 1730, which furthered the split between Halle and Herrnhut within the Ebersdorf court community. When Johann Peter Siegmund Winckler and Friedrich Christoph Steinhofer successively joined the count’s court and thus became leaders of the two parties, the partisan conflict in Ebersdorf intensified. In order to reconcile the two parties, Heinrich XXIX of Reuss-Ebersdorf organized a conference in his castle on 3 August 1733, which, however, failed due to the intransigence of both sides and contributed to the final break between Halle and Herrnhut. Winckler‘s rejection of coexistence between the two parties ultimately led to his departure. Steinhofer then gradually took over the leading role in the religious life of the Ebersdorf castle community. This meant a Pietist shift from Halle to Herrnhut in Ebersdorf. The Ebersdorf example shows that harmonious coexistence was almost impossible at an aristocratic court at that time.

Die Anfänge der Leseversammlungen in der Karwoche

2026-05-05T08:47:27+02:00

For the week leading up to Easter, the Moravians developed a distinctive liturgical form that includes daily services during which the story of Jesus’s last days is read. For this purpose, a Gospel harmony was created that recounts the events in chronological order with texts from the four gospels. The readings are interrupted by congregational hymns and by singing of the choir, so that each individual can reflect and internalize the readings. Traditionally, no homilies or sermons were given during these services. This article traces the origins of this tradition, which continues in many places until the present day.

Ein Porträt des Grafen Friedrich Christian von Zinzendorf (1697–1756)?

2026-05-05T08:49:58+02:00

From the outset, it was clear that this investigation of how the ‘Portrait of a Gentleman’ (no. 34) in the gallery of ancestral portraits at Branitz Castle should be interpreted could not put forward new, reliable proofs from unequivocal sources. However, the following considerations lead to a presentation of this portrait as that of the imperial count Friedrich Christian von Zinzendorf and Pottendorf:

1. Such an identification would place alongside the portrait of Christiane Sophie, a married Countess of Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, that of her husband as a counterpart.

2. Since the portrait of the imperial count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (c. 1731) and that of the imperial countess Christiane Sophie von Zinzendorf can be attributed with certainty to the artist Balthasar Denner, it is logical to assume that a portrait of a close relative painted by the same artist or one of his associates is a portrait of Friedrich Christian von Zinzendorf.

3. The facial features of the person depicted in the ‘Portrait of a Gentleman’ (no. 34) display similarities with portrayals of other male members of the Zinzendorf family.

Zu Denners Porträts des oder der Grafen von Zinzendorf

2026-05-05T08:52:56+02:00

A series of Zinzendorf portraits in Herrnhut, Copenhagen and Budapest from Balthasar Denner’s studio were hitherto, in some cases despite noticeable differences, identified as portrayals of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. The arguments advanced for such identification are subjected to critical scrutiny in this article, which owes its origin to the preceding article by Kai Dose. Comparison of these portraits with the portrait in Branitz discussed by Dose supports his suggestion of identifying the person portrayed in it as Friedrich Christian von Zinzendorf, and the same identification is suggested for the Budapest portrait.

Der „Dietendorfer Laden“ in Gotha

2026-05-05T08:54:40+02:00

This article is a contribution to the economic history of the Neudietendorf Moravian Congregation at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. A shop in Gotha, the capital of the territory to which Neudietendorf belonged, was purchased in 1777 for the sale of handmade products from Neudietendorf and was maintained until 1842. In the ‘Dietendorf Shop’ on what is now Gotha’s New Market Square, only products made in Neudietendorf could be sold. The products on sale were of such quality and represented such good value that soon numerous Gotha guilds complained to the authorities. During the Napoleonic occupation, a time of poverty, the restrictions were loosened and a greater variety of products could be offered for sale. Some time after that, the shop became less successful and eventually insolvent. In 1842 the Neudietendorf Moravian Congregation therefore decided to sell the building and closed its business in Gotha after 65 years.

Heinz Schmidt

2026-05-05T08:56:27+02:00

The fact that a young SS man, who participated in mass shootings, makes a confession to a Moravian theologian and then says to him: “The one of us who survives all this has a great duty. He must then tell others how it was – really –!” is not only an extraordinary fact, but also represents a legacy that Heinz Schmidt recorded in his report and which, not least, is to be realized by the present article. Schmidt was left with a serious wound in a hospital where SS members were also treated and thus came into contact with young soldiers who came from the so-called SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS death’s head units). In his report he describes their internal conflicts as well as his own, which culminated in a Christmas celebration at the hospital in 1941. In order to shed light on the background to this, his CV is presented beforehand.

Der Weg zu kirchlicher Selbständigkeit

2026-05-05T08:58:21+02:00

From 1950 to 1970, political developments and changes altered the picture of the map of Africa fundamentally. Former colonies and territories under mandate regimes became independent states with their own government and national independence. This also had profound consequences for the self-image of the local population. As a result, faith communities formerly established as mission territories developed into autonomous African churches, which then regulated their own affairs without formally being dependent on and continuing to be directed by the original churches or mission societies on whose initiative they had originated. From that point, partnerships developed with them, which strengthened their fellowship and enabled new forms of cooperation to be found. These observations by Beck, who personally experienced and contributed to this development in Tanzania, clearly demonstrate paradigmatically, so to speak, using the example of the Moravian Mission and Church in Tanzania, how in many places this occurred in parallel to individual political developments. Characteristic of this development was the Africanization of all functions and management positions from foreign staff (missionary expatriates) to African officials and the transfer of all responsibilities to them. For African Christians, this goal seemed to have been achieved when Anosisye Jongo was installed as the first African Chairman of the Moravian Church’s Provincial Board in 1968. In the penultimate sections, the author reports on negotiations between the major Christian denominations in Tanzania and Kenya about the project of forming a common large church in East Africa. This did not lead to the goal intended, but it did result in greater closeness and cooperation between the churches involved. Since the sources for this subject are difficult to access, this report is largely of a personal nature.

Hans Schneiders Beiträge zur Pietismusforschung

2026-05-05T09:17:24+02:00

Hans Schneider’s essays on the history of Pietism, which focused on Radical Pietism, Johann Arndt, and Zinzendorf and the Moravian Church, offer a close insight into the methods and concerns of this Marburg church historian, who died at the end of 2022. He was especially concerned to identify the sources, and to achieve a deep knowledge of them and also of older literature, a carefully-considered use of terminology, a thorough analysis of the sources, discriminating judgments, and honest naming of open questions. With this careful approach Hans Schneider made a significant contribution to the development of research into the history of Pietism.

Bibliographie von Publikationen Hans Schneiders mit Bezug zu Zinzendorf und der Brüdergemeine 1978 bis 2022

2026-05-05T09:19:31+02:00

Jahresbericht Unitas Fratrum 2024

2026-05-05T09:24:52+02:00

Ein falscher Buchstabe

2026-05-05T09:28:36+02:00

Im April des Jahres 1725 entschloss sich der Graf Zinzendorf zu einem bedeutsamen literarischen Schritt: Er verließ das bisherige parochial-spirituell begrenzte Publikationsfeld und ging mit einer ausgeweiteten Thematik an die „breite“ Öffentlichkeit.

Nachruf auf Hans-Christoph Hahn

2026-05-05T09:30:35+02:00

Hans-Christoph Hahn 1934-2024

Bibliographische Übersicht der Neuerscheinungen über die Brüdergemeine

2026-05-05T09:32:13+02:00

Zum vorliegenden Heft

2026-05-05T07:38:27+02:00