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Jan
Hus (John Huss)
(1369 - 1415)
Hus's fiery determination to stand up for truth
laid a foundation that led directly to the Reformation. The last
words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise
up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.” It
was almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, when Martin Luther
nailed his 95 Theses of Contention onto the church door at Wittenberg
.Because of the prophecy of Jan Hus, (whose name means 'goose'),
a swan is the traditional symbol of many Lutheran congregations,
although, Luther's Rose is also popular.
Click
here to read a brief time-line, of Hus's life
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Interested in the life
of Jan Hus?
Reformation Tours can take
you to sites related to this amazing Reformer, such as... |
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| His birthplace in
Husinec |
The site of the Council of Constance |
Bethlehem
Chapel in Prague where he preached. |
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Hus's early years
Jan Hus was born in the village of Husinec click
here in southern Bohemia (today part of the Czech Republic)
from which he took his name. In Czech the word "hus"
means "goose." His parents were peasants—nameless
and unknown. His mother taught Jan to pray and, as he grew older,
influenced him toward a career as a priest. Back
to top
Reformation
Tours can take you to Jan Hus's Prague,
where you can not only enjoy this spectacular city, but also learn
more about this man of God. Click
here for tours.
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Hus the student
 Hus
started his studies at Charles University in Prague in 1390. In
1393 he became a bachelor of arts and a year later a master of liberal
arts. Hus recounts his poverty while studying at the university
in Prague: "When I was a hungry young student, I used to make
a spoon out of bread in order to eat peas with it. Then I ate the
spoon as well." Back
to top
Reformation
Tours can take you to Jan Hus's Prague,
where you can not only enjoy this spectacular city, but also learn
more about this man of God. Click
here for tours.
 Hus
the priest / Hus
and Wycliffe
Meanwhile, King Wenceslas' sister,
Anne, married Richard II of England in 1382. When Hus's hotheaded
friend Jerome of Prague returned from Oxford University, he brought
many of Wycliffe's writings. They struck a chord with Hus and
he hand copied many of these writings for his personal study.
He agreed with Wycliffe that all people should be able to read
the Bible in their own language. At that time, the Roman church
threatened to execute anyone found reading the Bible in anything
but Latin.
Hus became a priest in 1400 and began preaching in Czech at Bethlehem
Chapel in 1402. He was a popular preacher and the congregation
was often more than 3,000 people. He preached godliness and openly
criticized the clergy, saying, "These priests...are drunks
whose bellies growl with great drinking and are gluttons whose
stomachs are overfilled until their double chins hang down."
On December 20, 1409 the Pope issued a bull ordering all of
Wycliffe's books to be burned and forbidding his teachings. The
Czech people were incensed and there was an uprising. Hus continued
to preach and his support grew, despite the entire city being
excommunicated. Back to top.
Reformation Tours
can take you to Jan Hus's Prague, where you can not only enjoy
this spectacular city, but also learn more about this man of God.
Click
here for tours.
Hus
in exile
In 1412. after the papal ban, Hus left Prague
voluntarily and preached in the countryside and in small village
churches, visiting
towns such as Sezimovo Usti. Hus was not without his supporters,
notably the Czech king Vaclav IV. During this time he published
his most famous work De Ecclesia (concerning the church).
In this work he stressed that Christ is the head of the Church,
not Peter. He also challenged the power and authority of the pope
and cardinals. Back
to top.
Reformation Tours can take you to Jan
Hus's Prague, where you can not only enjoy this spectacular city,
but also learn more about this man of God. Click
here for tours.
Hus's
condemnation
On October 14, 1414 he began his journey to Constance joined by
30 riders. He had been promised safe passage by the Emperor Sigismund.
He arrived on November 3, 1414. Three weeks later, however, he was
arrested and taken to a dank dungeon where he remained in chains
for seventy-three days. His cell was next to a sewer and he spent
those weeks in hunger and poor health. It was only when the pope's
physician visited, that he was moved to a better cell.
The first
trial was on June 5, 1415 at the Franciscan monastery. On July
6, 1415 he was led into the Cathedral. A total of 30 charges were
leveled against him, mostly false, including the charge that he'd
referred to himself as the fourth person of the godhead. Repeatedly
asked to recant, he refused unless convinced by scripture of his
errors. His priests vestments were put on him, then ripped of
and destroyed, as the priests declared that they were committing
his soul to the devil. He was given a paper hat with pictures
of the devil to wear, with the inscription 'haeresiarcha' ( One
who originates or is the chief proponent of a heresy or heretical
movement). The Council of Constance also condemned Jerome of Prague
and John Wycliffe. Back to top
Reformation
Tours can take you to Jan Hus's Prague,
where you can not only enjoy this spectacular city, but also learn
more about this man of God. Click
here for tours.
Hus'
Martyrdom
 On
July 6, 1414, Hus's hands were tied behind his back with ropes and
a chain was placed around his neck. Wood and straw were placed all
around him. Wycliffe's writings were used as kindling for the fire.
Before the fire was lit, Count Palatine gave him one last chance
to recant. He responded, "God is my witness that the evidence
against me is false. I have never thought nor preached except with
the one intention of winning men, if possible, from their sins.
Today I will gladly die."
As the flames began, he sang in Latin, "Christ, thou Son of
the living God, have mercy upon me." His ashes were scattered
in the Rhine river. Back to top.
Reformation Tours
can take you to Jan Hus's Prague, where you can not only enjoy this
spectacular city, but also learn more about this man of God. Click
here for tours.
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| 1371/1374
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John Huss (Jan Hus)
was born in the village of Husinec in Bohemia (now part of the
Czech Republic) |
| 1391 |
Bethlehem Chapel (Hus’
future church) was founded in Prague |
| 1393 |
Bought an indulgence, a certificate
granting him forgiveness of sins. |
| 1396 |
Received a master's degree from
Charles University in Prague |
| 1398 |
Became a professor of theology
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| 1400 |
Ordained to the priesthood |
| 1401 |
Read Wycliffe's books, brought
from Oxford by Jerome of Prague. |
| 1402 |
Became preacher at
Bethlehem Chapel |
| 1402 |
Made rector of Charles University,
Prague to stop exodus of his supporters. |
| 1403 |
Wycliffe's theology condemned
by Catholic church in Prague. |
| 1404 |
Received a bachelor's degree in
theology |
| 1405 |
Pope Innocent VII tells archbishop
of Prague to stop the spread of Hus’ teachings.City of
Prague is put under interdict (basically the whole city was
ex-communicated by decree of Pope, to coerce Hus to quit his
“heresies”) |
| 1410 |
Pope Alexander V issued a bull commanding
the archbishop of Prague to burn all the books written by Wycliffe.
Preaching in private chapels (like Hus’ Bethlehem Chapel)
is prohibited by Papal (from the Pope) bull. |
| 1411 |
Hus is excommunicated a third time |
| 1412 |
Hus excommunicated a fourth time, Prague threatened
again with interdict, Hus goes into voluntary exile. |
| 1413-1414 |
Hus writes De Ecclesia and other books. |
| 1414 |
Hus promised safe conduct by the Pope and Emperor
Sigismund to the Council of Constance to present his views. |
| July 6, 1415 |
Council of Constance burns John Huss, in violation
of the Emperor's promise of safe conduct. The Emperor is told
"It is not necessary to keep one's word to a heretic." |
| 1415 |
Czech barons form Hussite league |
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