The Unity of the Brethren (Czech: Jednota bratrská, Latin: Unitas Fratrum, also known as Czech or Bohemian Brothers or Brethren) is a Christian denomination whose roots are in the pre-reformation work of Jan Hus, who was martyred in 1415. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Jan Hus ( ) (IPA: , alternative spellings John Hus, Jan Huss, John Huss) (c. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Events Friedrich I Hohenzollern (b. ...

Background

The reforms of Jan Hus, which included providing the Scriptures to the people in their own language, and that both elements of communion should be available to the people, were popular with the Czech people, but met extreme opposition from church authorities. Hus was executed, but his teachings led to the formation of the Hussite movement. One of the later branches of the hussitism was also Unity of the Brethren. The roots of this radical and pacifistic stream within the early reformation movement go back to 1457 in a small village called Kunvald near Žamberk, on Litice lordship of George Podiebrad, in the North-East part of Bohemia. Theologians and thinkers who provided inspiration for the future Unity of the Brethren were Hussite bishop Jan Rokycana and Petr Chelčický. Some other influential theologians and thinkers of Unity of the Brethren were: Brother Řehoř (Gregor) one of the founders, Lukáš Pražský — an inspiring theologian, Brother Jan Augusta, and the last bishop of Unity of the Brethren — Comenius (Jan Amos Komenský). Theologians and linguists of the Unity of the Brethren translated during the second half of the 16th century the Bible from the original languages into Czech. This translation is known as Bible of Kralice (Bible kralická) — until recently the most widely used Czech biblical translation — an equivalent to English King James Version. The Hussites comprised an early Protestant Christian movement, followers of Jan Hus. ... Events University of Freiburg founded. ... Kunvald (German: ) is a village in 5 km north of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, in the Pardubice Regionof the Czech Republic. ... Location of Žamberk in the Czech Republic Žamberk (Senftenberg in German) is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. ... Litice nad Orlicí (English: ), (German: ) is a village with the castle of the same name in 7 km west of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. ... George of Podebrady - statue in KunÅ¡tát (Czech Republic). ... Jan Rokycana, also known as Jan z Rokycana and Jan z Rokycan (c. ... Petr Chelčický¹ (ca. ... Portrait of Comenius by Rembrandt John Amos Comenius (Czech: ; German: ; Polish: ; latinized: Iohannes Amos Comenius) (March 28, 1592 – November 15, 1670) was a Czech teacher, scientist, educator, and writer. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Bible of Kralice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This page is about the version of the Bible; for the Harvey Danger album, see King James Version (album). ...

After 1620, due to a counter-reformation by the Roman Catholic Church, Protestants were forced to choose to either leave the country or practice their beliefs secretly. Members of the Unity of the Brethren who lived abroad (mostly in Poland) and those who left under persecution, regrouped in Germany under the influence of Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf and formed the church which is now known as Moravian Church (in Canada and United States except Texas), Jednota Bratrská (in the Czech Republic) and Unity of Brethren (in local languages mostly everywhere else, including Texas). During the Thirty-Years War, the church was very much on the run as it was targeted by local counter-reformation nobles and persecuted especially severely in its geographical homeland, and dispersed as a result to other slavic lands, various German states and as far as the Low Countries, where Comenius attempted to direct a resurgence, much as the secret Jews (The Moranos) were forced to operate in Habsburg controlled Spain and other Roman Catholic Lands. The Thirty Years War was a time of much religious bloodletting, witchburning and repression and by some estimates lead to millions of deaths and near depopulation of many areas in Germany and the eastern Holy Roman Empire as the wars ground on and on and forcible conversion and the inquisition were much practiced, even common. Most of the deaths were by-products of mercenary armies of occupation foraging for substanance among peoples hanging on the edge of subsistence themselves, not out-and-out executions, excepting save perhaps isolated (and accidental) atrocities like the sack of Magdeburg. Year 1620 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, Count of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, (May 26, 1700 – May 9, 1760), German religious and social reformer, was born at Dresden. ... The Moravian Seal, as rendered by North Carolina artist Marie Nifong The Moravian churches form a modern, mainline Protestant denomination with a religious heritage that began in 15th-century Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic). ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... The victory of Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) The Thirty Years War was a conflict fought between the years 1618 and 1648, principally in the central European territory of the Holy Roman Empire, but also involving most of the major continental powers. ... The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries (see Country) on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse (Maas) rivers. ... The term marrano refers to the Sephardim, Jews from the Iberian peninsula, who were forced to adopt the identity of Christians, either through coercion as consequence of the cruel persecution of Jews by the Spanish Inquisition, or for forms sake, and became Catholic converts. ... The extent of the Holy Roman Empire in c. ... Inquisition (capitalized I) is broadly used, to refer to things related to judgment of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. ... During the Thirty Years War the city of Magdeburg was besieged by the Holy Roman Empires Imperial Army from November 1630 to 20 May 1631 in the Sack of Magdeburg. ...

Those who stayed practiced their beliefs in secret and privately passed their beliefs from one generation to the next. Even after Emperor Joseph II proclaimed toleration in 1781, only Lutherans and Calvinists were allowed to openly practice their faith. Many of the Brethren united with the Lutherans and most of them with Calvinists around that time. Later after the end of World War I and formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Czech Lutherans and Calvinists formed a united church — The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. Joseph II (full name: Joseph Benedikt August Johannes Anton Michel Adam; March 13, 1741 – February 20, 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

From about the middle of the 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War, a number of Czech Protestants immigrated to USA. In most of the US they formed Czech churches within the Presbyterian Church. Those who settled as farmers in the state of Texas in the United States decided to form their own denomination. Jindrich Juren (1850–1921) came to Texas in 1876, and from 1881 through 1888 was the only minister to these Brethren congregations. Representatives of these congregations met in 1903 and formed the Evangelical Unity of the Czech-Moravian Brethren in North America. The early churches reflected their origin and worshipped in the Czech language. By the 1940s, most of the churches reflected assimilation into the surrounding culture and worshipped in the English language. In 1959, the name Unity of the Brethren was adopted. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1900 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Minor Party

Main article: Minor Party (Unity of the Brethren) // The Unity of the Brethren today has beliefs far from what they originally believed. ...

The Unity of the Brethren today has beliefs far from what they originally believed. Their original doctrines can be found in the early accounts of the book compilation Net of Faith. This book records all the important doctrinal advancements the Unity of the Brethren had during its formative years.

In 1490, The Edict of Brandýs allowed community members to hold public office and opened the door to further reforms of the social policy of the Unitas. Furthermore, many of them made alliances with the Hussites and in the long run resulted to the formation of what is now known as the Moravian Churches. They changed a lot of their doctrines to lessen the persecution they are experiencing from both the Catholic and Protestant churches. A Moravian can be: an ethnic group a Christian denomination This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

However, a few of them believed that these reforms were inaccurate. They stood up for the original doctrines and later they were called as the Minor Party separating themselves from the Major Party, those who accepted the reforms. The Minor Party believed that they are the only ones who followed the Net of Faith. Actually, they are the ones who continued on adding pages to the book while the Major Party chose not to deal with it anymore because of the great reforms they had done.

The Minor Party holds the following beliefs:

1 They believe that Trinity is wrong. They believe Jesus to be the Son of the God. They believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s active force, calling it as “God’s finger”.

2 They believe that the term minister must not be limited to those who finished a course on theology or ministry or to those ordained by the clergy. They believe that all Christians must be considered ministers.

3 They avoid holding any public offices. They don’t participate in politics and the military.

4 They preach God’s word from house to house, though this was severely observed during their times because of persecution.

5 They believe that images should not be used in worship.

6 They believe that man has no immortal soul which continually lives after the death of a person. They believe that a man (if unrighteous) cease to exist in all forms. They believe that Purgatory and Hell are wrong teachings. (Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the resurrection in the paradise while the Minor Party believes in a Heavenly life).

7 They consider Bible as the only basis of faith.

It is interesting to note that though the Minor Party has similar beliefs with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is the Major Party who used the Tetragrammaton, the Hebrew name of God, usually translated as Jehovah in English, in their publications.

The Minor Party, oppressed by the persecution from other churches and the Major Party, eventually came to dissolution after their last leaders were executed by their persecutors.

As a tribute to the Minor Party, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, through their Watchtower magazine, praised the efforts done by the Minor Party. This article is about the magazine. ...

The following paragraphs apply fully only to this Texan Church of the Czech descent.

Doctrine

This body accepts the Apostles' Creed as a valid expression of their beliefs, and stresses the ancient motto, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love." They believe the Bible is God's revelation to man, the sourcebook for all spiritual truth; that one God is revealed in three persons; that Christ is the only way of salvation; that salvation is by grace through faith; that the Holy Spirit dwells in believers; and that Jesus Christ will return to judge the world and reward the faithful believers. The Unity practices two sacraments—water baptism and holy communion. Christian parents present their infant children for baptism. All Christians are invited to commune with them at the Lord's supper or communion. However, they do not regard full agreement on the elements, methods and modes of the sacraments as essential. They believe that love is the supreme evidence of Christian disciples. The Apostles Creed (Latin: Symbolum Apostolorum), sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or symbol. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ...

Church Emblem

The Unity of the Brethren church has adopted a church emblem having an open Bible, with a cross behind in the center, and a chalice in front to the left. According to the church, the "cross represents Christ as the resurrected and living Lord, the Bible is the sourcebook of all Christian truth, open for all to explore, while the chalice holds special significance for Brethren: not only is it a symbol of the Lord's Supper, but it is also a reminder of the pre-Reformation insistence of John Hus and the early Brethren upon receiving the Cup as well as bread in Holy Communion."

Status

Currently the church is made up of 28 congregations with an estimated membership of 3500, with all except one located in the state of Texas. The location of the majority of churches is roughly the area from West, Temple, to Austin to Houston. The synod meets every two years. The Unity of the Brethren maintains several ministry organizations, including the Board of Christian Education; Brethren Youth Fellowship; Brethren Bookstore, operated in Caldwell, Texas; Brethren Journal (founded 1902); Christian Sisters Union; Friends of the Hus Encampment; Grants and Bequests Board; the Hus Institute for Lay Leadership (which meets with the various congregations); and the Mutual Aid Society. The Hus Encampment Facility is located near Caldwell, Texas. They have no seminary, but support the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Three missionary families are serving in Honduras and Mexico. Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Country United States State Texas Counties Travis County, Williamson County Government  - Mayor Will Wynn Area  - City  296. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Incorporated June 5, 1837 Government  - Mayor Bill White Area  - City  601. ... Caldwell is a city located in Burleson County, Texas. ... Caldwell is a city located in Burleson County, Texas. ... Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania Counties Lehigh and Northampton Founded 1741  - Mayor John B. Callahan Area    - City  19. ...

The Czech-originated Unity of the Brethren should not be confused with the Unity of the Brethren Baptists, a Baptist organization in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging...

See also

• Polish brethren

Polish Brethren (also called Antitrinitians, Arians, or Socinians) was the name of a Christian Polish sect from the 16th century. ...

External links

• Unity of the Brethren – official Web site
• Adherents.com
• Industry Brethren Church
• Jindřich Juren – Unity of the Brethren minister
• The Net of Faith - English translation

References

• Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
• Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
• Renewal of Church and Society in the Hussite Reformation, by Jacob K. Zeman