THE MORAVIAN CHURCH (UNITAS FRATRUM)
Jednota bratrská

History

The beginnings of the UNITAS FRATRUM, or the Moravian Church, date back to Middle Ages, from great spiritual awakening in Bohemia (Hussitism). To large extent it was influenced by the teachings of Petr Chelčický about the refusal of violence. In 1457 they left under the leadership of Brother Gregory to seclusion in Kunvald (Eastern Bohemia) and called themselves “Brothers and Sisters of Christ´s Church - Unitas Fratrum“ (The Unity of Brethren).

The Unity stressed the ideal of three kinds – of faith, love and hope, always cosidering the practical Christian life as more important than the doctrine or church traditions. It spread in Bohemia, Moravia and in Poland and it greatly influenced the reformation theology and the Czech culture. The Bible of Kralice, which had been translated from original languages, was extraordinary important for the preservation and purity of the Czech language for the following four centuries. Among the most outstanding representatives of the Unity were Lukáš Pražský, Jan Augusta, Jan Blahoslav and also the “teacher of nations“, Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius).

The persecution of Protestants  after the Battle of the White Mountain (in 1620) was for tens of thousands of people the cause for leaving the country. Others remained, trying to preserve the faith in secrecy and pass it at least to their children. They were bolstered up by the secret reading of the Scriptures and encouraged by visits of preachers from abroad. This way the Evangelicals survived the whole century as “a hidden seed“ .

Around 1722 the religious opression from Moravia (Suchdol, Fulnek) escalated and the emigration grew stronger. Under the guidance of Kristián David the refugees used to find a shelter on the estate of Earl M. L. Zinzendorf in the Upper Lusatia, where they founded a settlement, which they called Herrnhut (in Czech Ochranov, meaning the place under God´s protection), where they strove to preserve the traditions of the original Unity. As a decisive impetus for the uniting they felt the celebration of Lord´s Supper on August 13, 1727, when the participants experienced the mighty presence of  the Holy Spirit (“the restoration of the Unitas Fratrum“). This experience not only led to inner unification, but awoke the desire to bear the good news about God to those who had not yet heard it. The first missionaries set out on their journey to slaves on the Island of St. Thomas in the Carribic in 1732, followed by others who travelled to Greenland, the South and North Americas, to the Souith Africa and Australia. For less than thirty years 226 missionaries left a small town for their mission around the world, where they were called Moravian Brethren according to the place of their origin.

In their Fatherland the Unitas Fratrum were allowed to start their activity again only after 1861. The first congregation of the “Restored Unitas Fratrum“ in Bohemia was founded in Potštejn in 1870.

Mission

In its confession and teachings the present Unitas Fratrum returns to the original legacy of the Old Unitas Fratrum and develops the heritage of the Restored Unity. It seeks present ways of missionary work and proclamation of the gospel, laying stress on the “word of the cross“ and on personal, live faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour. It endeavours to apply this faith even in the educational and social spheres, running a nursery school and an elementary school, and a missionary college, and being active in social and community care service.

The Unitas Fratrum is an ecumenically opened church and wants to be a bridge between Episcopal and Congregational churches, as well as between “traditional“ and “charismatic“ churches.

Their confession is expressed in the motto: VICIT AGNUS NOSTER, EUM SEQUAMUR (“our Lamb has won, let us follow him“). It enriched the form of  Christianity with several customs  like Advent stars and  the agape. It is known for using selected verses from the Bible as an aid for everyday retreat. They are regularly published under the title “Hesla jednoty bratrské“ (Watchwords of the Unitas Fatrum).

Organisation

The Unitas Fratrum in the Czech Republic is an independent province within the world Unitas Fratrum – Moravian Church, which involves 19 provinces in Europe, North and South America and Africa. The administration is presbytarian and synodal, the supreme body being the Synod. Between the Synods  the Church is administered by a three-member Provincial Board (Úzká rada). Bishops of the Unity Fratrum have no administrative capacity. Their office is spiritual. They are supposed to be elder brothers and advisors to preachers, shepherds to sheperds and guards of orders. Therefore the sphere of their activity is not limited by frontiers and they are bishops of the whole world Unitas Fratrum.

Statistics

At present the Unitas Fratrum has 20 congregations with 22 extensions (preaching stations)  and 5 missionary places; 23 ordained ministers and a number of other workers. It has 2,000 members.

Address:

The Central Office of the Unitas Fratrum

Ústřední kancelář Jednoty bratrské
Kollárova 456
509 11 Nová Paka
phone/fax: 0434 - 621 258
e-mail: jb.kancelar@worldonline.cz