The article summarizes reflections, descriptions, views and evaluation of Reformation on its 500th anniversary. In the new biographies of Martin Luther the Reformation he launched is placed into the wider process of the changes in Europe, caused by its inner development and the outer circumstances of the time. The Turkish expansion into Europe, the fall of Constantinople and the consequent flight of Greek intellectuals especially to Italy – all this fostered the development of Humanism, whereas the knowledge of Greek and Hebrew changed the outlook on the Bible, the sacred book of the Christian religion. The invention of printing press in 1450 offered previously unprecedented possibilities of spreading the printed word. The movement engulfed the whole Europe and Martin Luther gave it the direction of what is called Protestantism. Protestantism substantially affected Slovenians as well. Primož Trubar and other Slovenian Protestant writers and preachers, conveying the Word of God in Slovenian language, were in conformance with what was taking place in the field of religion all over Europe. The 31st October 1517, which is the date of Luther’s letter to Archbishop Albert of Brandenburg, triggered the political, religious, cultural and social process which shaped the Protestant Europe as well as the Catholic one in the subsequent centuries. Luther laid the foundations for Protestant churches, which were further shaped and proclaimed by the political and religious elites in accordance with their times and situations. This gave rise to the saying that Martin Luther was »buried under countless layers of myths, constructions and superlatives«. German science journalism tries to remove all these layers and show Luther in an authentic manner, like Luther endeavoured to place faith on the authentic foundation of the Bible. This is something that Primož Trubar, the pioneer and giant of Slovenian Reformation, deserves as well.
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