Martyrs mirror is about christians who discovered god wanted more for his people than they had. Weaverzercher wellconceived, wellwritten, and wellresearched, martyrs mirror is a terrific book and an absolute pleasure to read. Feb 27, 2017 martyrs mirror has shaped the anabaptist tradition more powerfully than any book besides the bible. My newest book, romes audacious claim, was released december 1. Book two that depicted jesus baptism in the jordan riveran overt rebuttal to the insistence of his more conservative coreligionists who defended baptism in homes rather than in streams by appealing to examples from the martyrs mirror in which anabaptist martyrs were baptized indoors. When selling books in amish communities, im often asked if i carry the martyrs mirror. Take for example maria van beckum who, with her sisterinlaw, was burned at the stake in 1544 in utrecht. Martyrs mirror images mennonite library and archives. Most of martyrs mirror describes the persecution and execution of thousands of anabaptists in the low countries between 1524 and 1660. Martyrs mirrors lancaster mennonite historical society. You can read about anabaptist martyrs in book 2 of martyrs mirror which, after the bible, is the most important book in most amish homes.
The martyrs mirror is still a beloved book among amish and mennonites. It has detailed descriptions and illustrations of torture. The mirror of the martyrs exhibit is based on the publication of the second edition of the martyrs mirror of 1685. Jan 25, 2018 although he is known predominantly in todays anabaptist communities for his iconic etchings in the martyrs mirror by thieleman j. The story contains all the usual martyr template plot points and then cuts off as the women are tied to the stake its not until 32 pages later, in the story of hans van monster. Weaverzerchers masterful new history of thieleman j. Martyrs mirror young center books in anabaptist and pietist. The movement is generally seen as an offshoot of protestantism, although this view has been challenged by some anabaptists. The ephrata martyrs mirror download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Weaverzercher has a knack for highlighting conflicts and dramas associated with the. Martyrs mirror wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Dirk willems of holland was rebaptized when he became a believer, thus rejecting the infant baptism practiced at that time. Click download or read online button to get the ephrata martyrs mirror book now. Ive added this story as one of the first because i love it so much.
Stories of anabaptist martyrs retold from martyrs mirror by neta jackson. The priests disputed with hans for two days, but unfortunately the author of the martyrs mirror, from where i got this story, found their conversation too long to relate. The authors gigantic work, the record of christian faith and endurance from the first century to the anabaptist persecutions in the sixteenth century. Historically for amish and mennonites, the martyrs mirror has been the most important book next to the bible. The anabaptist martyrs mirror in the past and for today. Anabaptist dirk willems rescues his pursuer and is subsequently burned at the stake in 1569. Using a clear three part structure to organize his book, weaverzerchers study effectively supports his opening thesis that the martyrs mirror has had a significant part to play in providing a historically rooted model for anabaptist faithfulness x. The anabaptists taught that the roman catholic church had strayed from the. It certainly contains historical information, and it is an especially interesting original source in that it focuses on humble lower and middle class individuals and their private dramas, rather than larger than life figures and the broad brushstrokes of history. The role of anabaptist women according to the martyrs mirror from 1527 to 1559.
In some conservative and old order households, it provides a beloved. Also unfortunately, the anabaptists pride in being right over trivia is what triggers much of it. The full title of the book is the bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless christians who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of jesus, their. The printing press used for the book can be viewed today in bedford county, pa. This action, plus his continued devotion to his new faith and the re. Continuing persecution in europe was largely responsible for the mass emigrations to north america by amish, hutterites, and mennonites. Martyrs mirror holds a diverse legacy among presentday anabaptists. A social history young center books in anabaptist and pietist studies david l. The library has the 1660, 1685, 174849, and many other editions on display. In 1660, a thousandpage tome was published in the netherlands with a long title.
Printed continually since then, it is still a beloved book among the amish and mennonites today. The book shines a mirror on ordinary people who experienced a spiritual reality that few today can even imagine. Today his book is a traditional mennonite or amish wedding gift. As suggested by the complete title of the martyrs mirror, they were christians who believed, based upon their study of the new testament, that baptism was intended, not for infants, but for believers who confessed their faith in jesus christ for salvation. This is a book that inspires us to keep the faith and believe steadfastly in the call christ makes upon us. Stories of anabaptist martyrs retold from martyrs mirror by dave and neta jackson scottdale, pa. When the name jan luiken is mentioned in anabaptist circles, most think of his brilliant etchings in the martyrs mirror. Jan gleysteen, the drama of the martyrs lancaster, pa. Anabaptism from neolatin anabaptista, from the greek. It is still significant because it was the first martyrs mirror translated into german. The complex legacy of the martyrs mirror among mennonites.
These arent intended to be high enough quality for print or other reproduction. Mennonite library and archives martyrs mirror images. Most of martyrs mirror describes the persecution and execution of thousands of anabaptists in the low countries between 1524 and 1660 plus germans, swiss, austrians and other europeans. Jakob died 1536, in innsbruck, austria, and katharina in 1538, in schoneck modern italy it is not known when jakob hutter, a hat maker from the rugged alpine valleys of tyrol who may well have taken part in the peasants revolt of 1525, first encountered the nonviolent teachings of the dangerous anabaptists. The bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless. The number of anabaptist martyrs in the tyrol and gorz, was estimated at one thousand at the end of the year 1531. The mennonite encyclopedia article martyrs mirror vol. This gigantic book calls believers to follow jesus in all areas of life, even unto death.
Here are stories of men and women who died for their belief. Be careful of the disturbing content in martyrs mirror you might want to reserve martyrs mirror for the adults in your home. It was the largest book printed in america before the revolutionary war. The complex legacy of the martyrs mirror among mennonites in. It is an account of the numerous anabaptists, spiritual predecessors of the amish, who perished on account of their faith. The translation of this work was made from the dutch edition of 1660, and where questions. The preface of the book is signed dordrecht july 23, 1659. Next to the bible and the anabaptist hymnbook, no book has been more influential in perpetuating and nurturing the faith of mennonites and amish. The martyrs mirror has a consistent habit of, what they call in the news business, burying the lead. The full title of the book is the bloody theater or. Gleysteens book, however, which reproduces the etchings, actually includes 115 illustrations. A social history is a significant entry in religious scholarship that deepens our understanding of anabaptism and christianity in general. An ambitious and unprecedented undertaking, this book brings together an accessible summary of scholarship about the martyrs mirror with fresh interviews and comments from diverse anabaptist groups. The bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless christians who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of jesus, their saviour, from the time of christ to the year a.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Weaverzercher has a knack for highlighting conflicts and dramas associated with the texts history. Martyrs mirror, the classic 1660 dutch religious history, memorializes the godly lives and glorious deaths of thousands of early christians, especially european anabaptist martyrs between 1524 and 1660. The bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless christians who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of jesus, their savior, from the time of christ to the year a. Tells about fifteen male and female martyrs through short stories and reproductions of the jan luyken etchings found. The full title of the book is the bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless christians who baptized. A prized possession, anabaptist immigrants to pennsylvania often brought along copies of the book on their ocean voyages to america. I particularly appreciate the good quality, physically. May 04, 2017 martyr s mirror is one of the central texts for amish and other anabaptist communities. The lord, who couldnt stand to watch the torture he ordered, apparently found interrogation acceptable, and he was there as the priests argued with hans. Weaverzercher has a knack for highlighting conflicts. These were scanned directly out of a copy of the 1685.
Martyrs mirror, originally written in 1660, is a very old and significant book for anabaptist christians this book was an attempt to collect together all faithful and holy christian martyrs who have died for christian faith and ideals throughout 17 centuries, their names and what has remained of their lifestories and views and teachings. January 26th, 2015 carrie mast, a mennonite from bluffton, ohio, recently wrote a post for bearing witness about the process of adapting the story of martyr jacques dauchy into a dramatic script with her husband, gerald mast, and their children. Classic graphic accounts of more than 4,000 christians who endured su. Martyrs mirror johns hopkins university press books. Weaver zerchers masterful new history of thieleman j. Approximately 2,500 anabaptists were martyred in sixteenth and early seventeenthcentury europe. Martyrs mirror and herewith give it to the public, in the hope that it may be the means of promoting the glory of god and of doing much good among the children of men. Martyrs mirror young center books in anabaptist and. Both it, and a paperback condensed version, mirror of the martyrs, are available for sale. Pdf martyrs mirror ebooks includes pdf, epub and kindle.
The first scholarly history of the iconic anabaptist text. Martyrs mirror or the bloody theater, first published in holland in 1660 in dutch by thieleman j. The full title of the book is the bloody theater or martyrs. The first anabaptists began baptizing believers in 1525, and followers of this faith were. Martyrs mirror remains a tool of revival, offering new life to the communities and people who read it by revitalizing anabaptist ideals and values. It is a remarkable example of setting sainthood and martyrdom into the modern experience of christianity.
The ephrata martyrs mirror download ebook pdf, epub. The full title of the book is the bloody theater or martyrs mirror of the defenseless christians who bapti. Martyrs mirror has shaped the anabaptist tradition more powerfully than any book besides the bible. The 1,100page martyrs mirror continues to undergird amish and mennonite values today. The bloody theater the martyrs mirror and anabaptist.
His depiction of the martyr dirk willems may be the most famous, appearing on book covers, adapted artwork, and even secular psychology textbooks. Read this work in 1660, dutch mennonite thieleman j. You know you are at a mennonite wedding when this is one of the presents. Martyr s mirror is one of the central texts for amish and other anabaptist communities. Hans brael is one of the great anabaptist martyrs of the 16th century. Meticulously researched and illustrated with sketches from early publications of martyrs mirror, weaverzerchers ambitious history weaves together the existing scholarship on this iconic text in. The author, thieleman van braght, compiled this book to cast a bright. Anabaptist dirk willems rescues his pursuer and is subsequently burned at the stake in 1569 martyrs mirror or the bloody theater, first published in holland in 1660 in dutch by thieleman j.
Although he is known predominantly in todays anabaptist communities for his iconic etchings in the martyrs mirror by thieleman j. Dave jackson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mar 02, 2015 it is still significant because it was the first martyrs mirror translated into german. Written in 1659 by a dutch mennonite to strengthen the faith of his fellow believers and translated into german in 1748 through 1749 at the time of the french and indian war for the.
The idea is to make it easier to find particular images and get an overview of the set. These stories, including those of michael sattler, elizabeth dirks, and dirk willems, reflect a crosssection of the thousands of men and women who lost their lives because of their faith during the 16th century. It was the largest book printed in america at that time, sauder said. The second is a historical acccount of the holy martyrs who suffered on account of baptism or generally for the testimony of jesus christ.