Christianity in the 16th century
In 16th-century Christianity, Protestantism came to the forefront and marked a significant change in the Christian world.
Saint Nicholas Concathedral, Prešov, Slovakia after late Gothic reconstruction (1502–1515).
Life of Martin Luther and the heroes of the Reformation
Luther's 95 Theses
Martin Luther, by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes justification by God through faith alone, the teaching that salvation comes by unmerited divine grace, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. The five solae summarize the basic theological beliefs of mainstream Protestantism.
The door to All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther allegedly posted his Ninety-five Theses in 1517 detailing his concerns with what he saw as the Catholic Church's abuse and corruption. The Ninety-five Theses gave rise to Christian Protestantism as one of the world's primary religions, making Wittenberg the "cradle of Protestantism".
Memorial Church, finished and consecrated 1904, in Speyer, Germany commemorates the Protestation.
The Protesting Speyer, part of the Luther Monument in Worms, Germany
Two central figures of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin, depicted on a church pulpit; both Luther and Calvin emphasized making preaching a centerpiece of worship.