Johannes Francke (theologian)

Johannes Francke (born November 2, 1604 in Markersdorf ; † March 10, 1684 in Weida ) was a German theologian of the Baroque period .

Life

Epitaph of Johannes Francke in the city church Weida

Johannes Francke was the son of pastor Bartholomäus Francke from Markersdorf and the pastor's daughter Margaretha Juditha Wagner from Burkersdorf. He was the third child of a total of nine siblings.

From 1614 Francke attended the Latin School in Weida , the grammar schools in Zeitz , Eisleben and Gera , studied theology in Leipzig from 1627 to 1632, became rector of the city school in Weida in 1632, deacon on August 28, 1636, deacon on February 21, 1643 archdeacon , January 29 1646 pastor primarius and on August 5, 1651 superintendent .

After the plundering and destruction of the city of Weida in the Thirty Years' War , he inaugurated the newly built city church and stood by his community during the great flood in 1661. A plate on the back of the altar cross from 1664 still bears witness to the reconstruction work carried out at that time. Johannes Francke initially founded the church library with the books saved from the war. His personal home Bible with handwritten notes is still kept there today.

Francke's statue, built in high relief , is in the choir of the town church to the left of the altar , and his Bible is still in the church archive. He married Martha Nürnberger, whose father was Christoph Nürnberger, mayor of Weida.

Motto and coat of arms

• Superintendent Johannes Francke's motto was:

"INDUBITATA FIDES, MUNDI VICTORIA SOLA" Our faith is the victory that has conquered the world. (1 John 5,4)

• Coat of arms : in the coat of arms a mercenary with harem pants and beret , in the right hand a lance , in the left hand holding an imperial orb. Tinctures unknown. (According to a seal from 1656 on a letter in the archives of the Pforta State School , in which Sup. Joh. Francke asks for his third son to be admitted to the school).

Literature (sources)

• Francke family tables, 6th edition 1999, panel X, in the family archive "Bartholomäus Francke eV" in the city church in Weida