Jörg Blaurock

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Jörg Blaurock (nickname), actually Jörg (Georg) Cajacob (* around 1492 in Bonaduz , Canton of Graubünden , † September 6, 1529 in Klausen , Tyrol ), was a Roman Catholic priest and later a leading figure in the Radical Reformation . He is considered to be the first to be baptized in faith during the Reformation and died as a martyr of the Anabaptist movement . As an Anabaptist, his area of ​​activity was mainly the area around Zurich , the Bern area, eastern Switzerland and South Tyrol .

Surname

In the sources on the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland , both the first name and the surname of the former priest and later Anabaptist leader vary. While the first names documented in the sources ( Jerg , Jöre , Jörg , Jöry , Jorg ) are all etymologically derived from Georg and represent dialect forms of this name, the surnames that are found are of different nature: Cajacob , von Chur , vom hauß (huss) Jacob and von Husen . The surname Blaurock (other spellings: Blauwrock , Blawrack , Blawrock , Blawrok , Plawrok ), which is mainly used, is a nickname. Its origin is explained in the following chapter.

Beginnings

Täuferdisputation of 17 January 1525 Zurich Town Hall, where Jörg Cajakob nicknamed Blaurock received

Jörg Cajakob came from a rural family in Graubünden. His father's name was Luzi Cajakob. As a young man he attended the Latin school in Chur and then completed his priestly training at the seminary of the St. Lucius Monastery , where he was ordained a priest . In the summer semester of 1513 he enrolled at the University of Leipzig . Three years later he was already working as a vicar in Trin (Graubünden), where he joined the Reformation movement in 1524 at the latest, renounced celibacy and entered into marriage. The frequently found claim that Cajakob was a monk was investigated and refuted as early as 1939.

(? Early 1525) traveled Cajakob accompanied his wife to the end of 1524 Zurich , to Ulrich Zwingli visit. The history book of the Hutterite Brothers notes:

“The [Cajakob] also came to Zwingel [Zwingli] first and dealt and talked a lot with him about matters of faith, but nothing was done. Then he was told that there were other men who would be more zealous then the Zwingel. Which men he diligently asked and came to see them, namely Konrad Grebel and Felix Mantzen , and talked to them and talked about religious matters halfway. His things also became one with each other [...] »

- History book of the Hutterite Brothers (reprint 1982), p. 34

The two names mentioned in the quote refer to a group of Proto-Anabaptists , to which, in addition to Grebel and Manz, Simon Stumpf , Heinrich Aberli , Lorenz Hochrütiner and Bartlime Pur belonged. During an interrogation, Heinrich Aberli reported that the Castelberg reading group had come about because of a special request. He himself, Hochrütiner, Ininger and Pfister (= Pur) had the concern to develop further in the evangelical doctrine and especially in the writings of the apostle Paul . They then looked for a suitable teacher and came across Andreas Castelberger , a theologically educated bookseller. Grebel and Manz in particular had originally been in the immediate vicinity of Zwingli, but then increasingly distanced themselves from him because of his hesitant attitude to implement the Reformation and, after a public disputation in October 1523, came into sharp opposition to him. Although an attempt was made in the first half of December 1524 to bridge this conflict, it was unsuccessful, as evidenced by the protestation and protective letter written by Felix Manz , which appeared at the end of December 1524 or in the first half of January 1525.

Jörg Cajakob entered this spiritual environment after the unsuccessful discussions with Zwingli. With Manz and Grebel he was connected “in the pure research of God” with the knowledge that “one has to learn a true, loving faith from the divine word and preaching and receive true Christian baptism on the basis of the known and known faith”.

Jörg Cajakob also took part as a listener in the public disputation convened by the Zurich Council for Tuesday, January 17, 1525. In Anabaptist research, it is referred to as the 1st Zurich Anabaptist Disputation and took place in the city hall of Zurich. The question of baptism was on the agenda. In addition to Grebel and Manz, Wilhelm Reublin also appeared as opponents of infant baptism . The proponents were represented by Zwingli and other theologians. During the dispute, Cajakob also spoke out from the audience and presented his views in a short vote. On this occasion, Jörg Cajakob also received his nickname, by which he became known in the following years. Someone asked about the speaker and got the answer: "The one in the blue skirt!" Others heard it and called him blue skirt ever since.

The establishment of the first Anabaptist Church

This plaque is reminiscent of a service held by Blaurock and Manz in Zollikon.

Four days after the Anabaptist disputation , the Zurich city council issued an ordinance that all children were to be baptized no later than eight days after their birth . Anyone who does not obey this order should be expelled from the country. On the evening of that day - it was Saturday, January 21, 1525 - the Grebel circle met in the house of Felix Manz's mother. Jörg Blaurock was among them. After a long time of conversation and prayer, the first Anabaptist congregation was founded. In the above-mentioned Chronicle of the Hutterite Brothers, there is an account of the course of this meeting. The chronicles say that "fear began and came upon them and that their hearts were afflicted". After a prayer, Jörg Blaurock went to Konrad Grebel and asked him to baptize him. Grebel immediately complied with this request. After that, Blaurock in turn baptized the other meeting participants. According to John A. Moore, these events were "the hour of birth of the Anabaptist movement" and the "whole free church movement as we know it today".

Only a few days after this memorable christening act, Grebel, Manz and Blaurock (a little later Wilhelm Reublin and Johannes Brötli ) were in Zollikon near Zurich . Konrad Grebel and Felix Manz - so can be read in a recorded testimony - are here "all morning and evening in a number of hüser glouffen". On January 25, 1525, a Wednesday, a dinner took place in Rudi Thoman's house , from which a service event dominated by blue rock developed. Its process is described in relative detail in the Council minutes already quoted. The meeting then began with a scripture reading followed by a simple sacrament celebration . Blaurock broke the bread "ze stuken" and also puts a "gschir mit win" on the table. Before the distribution, a number of reminders were issued, relating to the requirements for participating in the meal. Among other things, Blaurock said: "Whoever believes that God has redeemed with his dying and rose-colored blue [...], come and eat with me from bread and dine with me from this win." In this context arose one present and tearfully confessed his sins. He was then asked by Blaurock if he desired the grace of God. After answering this question in the affirmative, Felix Manz, who was also present, baptized him by pouring water over his head with a ladle and pronouncing the Trinitarian baptismal formula . After another present was baptized, the interrupted sacrament service was brought to an end. While the Protestant Lord's Supper was not approved until Easter 1525 in the “Reformed” Zurich, following a council resolution, Blaurock and the other Anabaptists had already radically separated from the Roman Catholic tradition with their Lord's Supper service on January 25, 1525. After they had already opposed the decisions of the authorities through their baptisms, they now denied the state a second time with their "evangelical" Lord's Supper the right to make decisions in spiritual matters. Thus - according to Fritz Blanke - the first Protestant free church appeared in Zollikon in 1525.

Further developments

Zollikon on a map from 1667 - In the church marked there, Blaurock demanded the pulpit for himself on January 29, 1525.

The movement spread within a short time and reached the surrounding villages of Witikon , Höngg and Küsnacht just a few days after the service in Haus Thomann . In Zollikon alone, more than 30 residents were baptized - around a third of the free farmers. On Sunday, January 29, 1525 Blaurock appeared in the Zollikon church and during the service asked the parish priest Nicolaus Billeter to release the pulpit. The pastor - so Blaurock - has no divine calling to preach the gospel. This scandal, which was ended by the Zollikon governor, had its consequences. The next day the Zurich police appeared in Zollikon and arrested everyone except Blaurock and Manz who were known to be connected to the Anabaptists. The prisoners were taken to the Augustinian monastery in Zurich and interrogated at length. While most of the prisoners were released on payment of a guarantee of 1,000 guilders, Blaurock and Manz remained in prison until February 18. During the interrogation that took place at that time, Blaurock confessed that he was the first to receive the baptism of believers; he also took part in the “Holy Supper” in a way that was commanded by Christ. Blaurock and Manz were released from custody on the grounds that they would later be summoned for further interrogations and that they would be confronted with Zwingli. A revocation of their views had not yet been requested.

After his release, Blaurock returned to Zollikon to continue the missionary work he had begun. He preached and baptized mainly in the houses of the Zollikon farmers. Around 200 people are said to have gathered at such a gathering in Hans Murer's house. The wife and daughter of Mayor Blüwler were among those baptized. The movement initiated by Blaurock and others was not without reaction from the Zurich council. For March 20, he set another Anabaptist disputation, the second after January 17, 1525. The Zurich Town Hall served as the venue for the meeting, to which only a small group of disputants was invited this time. This time Blaurock was one of the spokesmen for the Anabaptist faction. Opposite him stood Zwingli, with whom he clashed hard in the course of the debate. On March 25, the council passed its judgment. While the locals were released with a strict warning and a fine, the non-residents ( frömbden ), including “Jeorg von Chur, called Blawrock”, received an expulsion order that was to be implemented immediately. There was also an additional order for Blaurock and his wife:

" [...] that you get on a ship in un sin wyb and go to Chur ; and they should write to those of Chur to be careful and keep them. And in saying where he comes from, you want to give him the lon who thinks that he will be restless for now. "

- Diethelm Röist, mayor, small and large advises - Actum Saturday before fasting in 1525

Blaurock moved to Graubünden and, in collaboration with Felix Manz, ensured that the Anabaptist movement spread rapidly here too. Johannes Comander , representative of the Zwinglische Reformation in Chur, reported in a letter to Zurich about the consequences of the missionary work of the two Anabaptists. Many citizens of Chur - according to Comander - sided with Blaurock and Manz, both openly and secretly. The movement assumed such proportions that the Chur council felt compelled to take countermeasures. The Anabaptist meetings were forbidden by decree, and violators were threatened with the loss of “body, honor and property”. Blaurock and Manz were imprisoned.

The prison stay was short-lived. While Manz was returned to his hometown of Zurich shortly after his imprisonment with a letter from the Chur council, Blaurock was released not long afterwards, probably with the help of influential friends.

Blue rock captivity

The following table provides a comprehensive overview of Jörg Blaurock's stays in prison mentioned in the previous sections. Unless otherwise noted, the dates given are taken from the Blaurock biography Der stark Jörg .

time place Reason for arrest Fellow prisoners Remarks End of imprisonment
January 30, 1525 to February 8, 1525 Augustinian monastery Zurich Occupation of the pulpit in the Zollikon Church (January 29, 1525) Felix Manz , 24 farmers from Zollikon The farmers are released on payment of a guarantee of 1,000 guilders. Blaurock and Manz are not required to revoke their teaching. release
March 1525 first Augustinian monastery in Zurich, then in Zurich's Neuer Turm prison Missionary work and baptisms in Zollikon 20 more followers of the Anabaptist movement During this stay in prison, the second Zurich Anabaptist disputation took place on March 22, 1525, in which Blaurock acted as spokesman. Deportation to Chur
May 1525 (?) Chur Missionary work, baptisms Felix Manz As a non-Bündner, Manz was sent back to his hometown of Zurich after a few days. Release after a few weeks - probably with the help of friends
October 8, 1525 to March 21, 1526 Grüningen (first in the castle , then in the new tower ) Occupation of the pulpit in the Hinwil Church at least 20 followers of the Anabaptist movement On March 7, 1526, Blaurock and 20 other Anabaptists were sentenced to life imprisonment. Prison break
3rd (13th?) December 1526 to January 5th 1527 Arrested in Grüningen ; Detention in Zurich ( Wellenberg ) Anabaptist Teachings; Attack on the clergy Felix Manz , two other Baptists On January 5, 1527, Manz was drowned in the Limmat, and Blaurock was driven out of the city with a whipping. Waiver of the death penalty for lack of evidence; Flogging; City expulsion
January 7, 1528 to January 26, 1528 Bern Anabaptist teachings at least another 7 Anabaptists The capture came during a public dispute over the introduction of the Reformation. Zwingli was also present. Release with announcement of the death penalty for further Anabaptist activities in Bern.
1st quarter 1529 to? Appenzell Anabaptist teachings, baptisms ? Nothing more is known about this imprisonment. Release, expulsion from the country
? April 1529 to? April 1529 Appenzell Anabaptist teachings, baptisms ? The Appenzell authorities contacted Zurich for more information about Blaurock. Release, expulsion from the country with announcement of the death penalty for further Anabaptist activities in the Appenzell region
August 19, 1529 to September 6, 1529 Gufidaun ( Summersberg Castle ) near Klausen Anabaptist teachings, baptisms, breaking priestly vows Hans Langegger The conviction took place on the basis of the so-called Anabaptist mandate . Execution (pyre)

Works (selection)

Blaurock also made a name for himself as a song writer. In the form , the oldest hymn book of the Anabaptist movement, there are two blue rock songs:

  • God leads a right judgment and no one likes to break it - In the paragon , the Blaurock song is preceded by the following note: “This song was made by Jörg Blawrock, the first brother of one, Ann who was burned in the Echtzland. 27. In the Dannheuser Thon. "
  • Lord God, I want to praise you from now to my end - The editors of the parade comment on this song with the following comment: “ This song was made by Jörg Blawrock, to Clausen in the Etschland with someone , Hans von der Reue , burned An. 1528. In tune as one sings the day white. "

Philipp Wackernagel lists the two songs in his well-known five-volume work The German Church Song .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The surname Cajacob can still be found in Blaurock's homeland, the Graubündner Land; see: Verwandt.de: Cajacob / Switzerland ; accessed on November 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ The data and facts in this section are based - unless otherwise noted - on John A. Moore: Der stark Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 8f; 46
  3. ↑ See the essay Oscar Vasella: From the beginners of the Bünderischen Anabaptist movement (Jörg Blaurock). In: Journal of Swiss History. 19/1939, pp. 165-184.
  4. ↑ Rudolf Wolkan (Ed.): History book of the Hutterite Brothers , Macmillan Colony Cayley / Alberta (Canada) 1982 (reprint of the 1923 edition)
  5. ^ Leonhard von Muralt, Walter Schmid (ed.): Sources for the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland. Vol. I, Zurich 1974 (2nd edition), p. 405.
  6. ↑ Hochrütiner also belonged to the St. Gallen reading group; see. Hanspeter Jecker: Hochreutiner [Hochrütiner], Lorenz. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  7. ↑ On Pur see Leonhard von Muralt, Walter Schmid (Hrsg.): Sources for the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland. Vol. I, Zurich 1952 (1st edition), pp. 19, 65, 385.
  8. ↑ See Andrea Strübind : Eager than Zwingli. The early Anabaptist movement in Switzerland. Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-428-10653-9 , p. 130.
  9. ↑ This includes the informal Tuesday talks between Manz and Zwingli
  10. ↑ On the protestation and protective letter see Andrea Strübind : Eifriger than Zwingli. The early Anabaptist movement in Switzerland. Pp. 296-331.
  11. ↑ Rudolf Wolkan (Ed.): History book of the Hutterite Brothers. P. 34f.
  12. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. P. 12.
  13. ↑ Rudolf Wolkan: History book of the Hutterite brothers. P. 35.
  14. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 13f.
  15. ^ Leonhardt von Muralt, Walter Schmid: Sources for the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland. Volume I, Zurich 1974², p. 38 (No. 29)
  16. ↑ Pauli's Announcement Day ; see Leonhardt von Muralt, Walter Schmid: Sources for the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland. Volume I, Zurich 1974², p. 38, note 5
  17. ↑ Quoted from Urs B. Leu, Christian Scheidegger (ed.): Die Zürcher Täufer 1525 to 1700. Zurich 2007, p. 37.
  18. ↑ Hans Bruggbach; see on this and the following Andrea Strübind: Eifriger than Zwingli. The early Anabaptist movement in Switzerland , Berlin 2003, p. 365.
  19. ↑ Since 1523 only Protestant sermons were allowed. The Lord's Supper was celebrated in the Zurich churches according to the Roman Catholic rite until Easter 1525 - but without the conversion words provided for in the liturgy ; s. Fritz Blanke: Anabaptism and Reformation. In: Guy F. Hershberger (Ed.): The Baptism. Legacy and Commitment. P. 59f.
  20. ^ Fritz Blanke: Anabaptism and Reformation. In: Guy F. Hershberger (Ed.): The Baptism. Legacy and Commitment. Stuttgart 1963, p. 60.
  21. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 17.
  22. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 18.
  23. ↑ The interrogation protocols can be found in Leonhardt von Muralt, Walter Schmid: Sources for the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland. Volume I, Zurich 1974², No. 29 (p. 37ff) and No. 31 (p. 40ff)
  24. ^ Fritz Blanke: Brothers in Christ. The history of the oldest Anabaptist community (Zollikon 1525). Volume 71 of the Zwingli library, Zurich 1955, p. 56.
  25. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 19f.
  26. ↑ Urs B. Leu, Christian Scheidegger (ed.): Die Zürcher Anabapters 1525-1700. Zurich 2007, p. 44.
  27. ↑ Leonhard von Muralt, Walter Schmid (ed.): Sources on the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland , Volume I (Zurich), ²Zürich 1974, No. 65 (p. 74)
  28. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955, p. 23.
  29. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Kassel 1955 (see especially the timetable p. 46)
  30. ↑ John A. Moore: The strong Jörg. The story of Jörg Blaurock, the Anabaptist leader and missionary. Melsungen 1955, p. 38ff.
  31. ↑ Philipp Wackernagel: The German hymn from the earliest times to the beginning of the 17th century. Leipzig 1855.
personal data
SURNAME Blaurock, Jörg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Blaurock, Georg; George of the House of Jacob; Cajakob, Georg (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION First Christian baptized in faith during the Reformation, Anabaptist
DATE OF BIRTH around 1492
PLACE OF BIRTH Bonaduz , Canton of Graubünden
DATE OF DEATH September 6, 1529
Place of death Klausen , Tyrol