Georg Scherer (martyr)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Georg Scherer ( Scheerer , Schärer ; * in Saalfelden ; † April 13, 1528 in Radstadt ) was a Franciscan who was executed as a martyr of Protestantism .

Life

Scherer initially worked as a secular priest for nine years , then he joined the Order of the Minorites . In 1525, after three years in the order, he took off his habit, because he “found nothing in the order but envy, hatred, quarrel and disagreement and a gleissnerischen life”. Scherer began to preach the Lutheran tenets in Radstatt. In 1528 he was accused of being a heretic before the Archbishop of Salzburg, Matthäus Lang , and thrown into prison. Here he was asked questions about various articles of Christian doctrine, which he answered in writing in accordance with Lutheran convictions. This creed, written by him, is considered his spiritual legacy. The verdict subsequently passed was that he should be cremated alive; upon intercession, the verdict was changed to the effect that he should first be beheaded and only then his body should be cremated. Before his execution, Scherer gave a short speech to the assembled community in which he stated that he was dying innocently. The speech made such an impression that after he was beheaded, the body was not cremated but buried in the earth.

Effects today

The Evangelical Reconciliation Church in Radstadt commemorates the execution of Georg Scherer. At the same time, the naming of this church also commemorates the events of 1732, when in the course of the Counter Reformation the Protestants had to emigrate from the Salzburg region and at that time 70% of the Radstadt population left their homeland, but did not want to give up their faith. At the church there is a plaque commemorating the Protestant martyr Georg Scherer. His feast day on April 13th is not included in the Evangelical name calendar .

literature

  • Peter F. Barton: The History of the Evangelicals in Austria and Southeast Central Europe. Vol. 1: In the shadow of the peasant wars - the early days of the Reformation. Vienna 1985, Hermann Böhlaus Nachf. ISBN 3-85073-199-5
  • Gerhard Florey: History of the Salzburg Protestants and their emigration 1731–32 . Böhlau, Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-205-08188-9 .
  • Judas Thaddäus Zauner : Chronicle of Salzburg (fifth part) . Franz Xaver Duyle, Salzburg 1803.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Josef Schmid: The Cardinal and Archbishop of Salzburg Matthäus Lang behavior towards the Reformation. In: Yearbook of the Society for the History of Protestantism in Austria , 21st year, Julius Klinkhardt, Vienna / Leipzig 1900, pp. 138–158.
  2. ↑ Scherer's Confession is printed in Peter F. Barton, pp. 281–287.
  3. ↑ Judas Thaddäus Zauner : Chronicle of Salzburg (Volume 5) , p. 126 f.
personal data
SURNAME Scherer, Georg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Scheerer, Georg; Schärer, Georg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian Franciscan; protestant martyr
DATE OF BIRTH 15th century
PLACE OF BIRTH Saalfelden
DATE OF DEATH April 13, 1528
Place of death Radstadt