THE AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY IN ERFURT

Erfurt is the spiritual home of Martin Luther. He studied here from 1501—1505 at the then already well-known university. He began studying the “seven ancient sciences”, then later studied theology and, following his father’s wishes, he also studied law. Yet it was a significant personal experience that was to radically change his life. On 17 July 1505 he requested acceptance into the Erfurt monastery, home to the Augustinian hermits, an order fa-mous for its scholarship. A strict daily schedule dictating spiritual and ascetic exercises and further scientific education within the order were to control his life as a monk for many years. In 1507 Martin Luther was ordained as a priest. The Augustinian Monastery and St. Augustus Church (with its glass window depicting the life of Jesus and Saint Augustus), as well as the old university which today has a new lease of life, the cathedral and Church of St. Severus, and the other churches where Luther later gave his sermons, are the most important witnesses to Luther’s time in Erfurt. Since Luther’s death Erfurt has been a “Lutheran City” and the Augustinian Monastery has been one of the most important “Lutheran sites”. The Augustinian Monastery pays tribute to Martin Luther with a permanent exhibition that depicts the history of the creation of the bible and the history of the Augustinian Monastery in a contemporary fashion. The “Luther cell”, part of the exhibition, is an excellent example of this. Yet the Augustinian Monastery of today is more than just a memorial site. It is also an architectural monument, a historical example of medieval religious architecture situated right in the old town of Erfurt. Badly destroyed in the Second World War but rebuilt in authentic historical style, it now serves as an internationally renowned conference and seminar centre for the Protestant Church in Saxony, with 75 beds and eight conference rooms. It also has a significant historical library. Since 1996 a group of nuns from the Casteller Ring Community have been living, praying and working in the Augustinian Monastery. The seven nuns conduct the church’s canonical prayers four times a day and attend services in St. Augustus Church. Anyone wishing to follow in the footsteps of Luther in Erfurt is always welcome at the Augustinian Monastery. Fifty guest rooms furnished in keeping with the style of the monastery are available for meetings, seminars and those wishing to stay overnight to pray.

The Augustinian Monastery The Reformation library The Renaissance courtyard The cloisters – place of meditation (l.) The “Luther cell” Aerial view of the monastery site