George III of Anhalt-Dessau

George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau; b. Anhalt-Dessau was a principality and later a duchy located in Germany. at Dessau Aug 13 or 15, 1507; d. Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland (Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed there Oct 17, 1553, was brought up with his brothers mainly by his devout mother Margaret, Duchess of Münsterberg. Events 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost Ziębice (Münsterberg is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. At the instance of his kinsman, Bishop Adolphus of Merseburg, he was elevated to the rank of canon in that see in 1518, and attended the University of Leipsic, where Georg Helt of Forchheim was his "highly beloved master. Bishopric of Merseburg was a former Episcopal see in Saxony with the center in Merseburg, founded at the same time in the same manner as those of Meissen The University of Leipzig (Universität Leipzig located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities " In 1524 Adolphus consecrated him as priest. That he might be able the better to refute the Lutheran sect, he made a thorough study of the Bible, the Church Fathers, and church history. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church The extreme tension of mind and the qualms of conscience into which his investigations brought him induced a violent illness, which left its mark upon him for the rest of his life. It was only after his mother's death (June, 1530) that he could see his way to entire clearness of faith; but from the time of the Diet of Augsburg (1530) both George and his brothers are found allied with the Reformers. The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. After the first Evangelical celebration of the Lord's Supper at Dessau, on Maundy Thursday, 1534, George visited the district churches, making the fewest possible changes in the church practises, in accordance with his natural disposition and with Luther's acquiescence. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer Loving peace, he sought to deter Luther, in 1538, from publishing the tract Wider den Bischof zu Magdeburg; and persuaded him, in 1542, not to circulate his sharply worded tract on the feud of Wurzen. In 1544 the protector of Merseburg Cathedral, Maurice of Saxony, appointed his brother, Duke Augustus, administrator, but because the latter was not a cleric, designated George of Anhalt as his "coadjutor in spiritual affairs. Merseburg is a Town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx Maurice I Elector of Saxony (b Freiberg, March 21, 1521 &ndash d Augustus I Elector of Saxony (b Freiberg, 31 July 1526 &ndash d " In this capacity he forthwith proceeded, in company with Antonius Musa, just then appointed cathedral preacher at Merseburg, upon a visitation of all the cathedral parishes, exhibiting great patience, tactful discretion, and forbearance. Antonius Musa was a botanist and the Roman emperor Augustus 's physician He next conferred with Maurice in the matter of a prospective liturgy, which, in accordance with his suggestions and in virtue of the deliberations of the consistories of Merseburg and Meissen, was officially completed at Altenzelle in 1545. From then on twice a year George convened the cathedral clergy to a synod in Merseburg Cathedral, and on such occasions discoursed upon the questions and evils of the time, and upon proper official conduct. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application He based these conciones synodicae upon outlines furnished him by Melanchthon. Philipp Melanchthon (born Philipp Schwartzerd) ( February 16, 1497 &ndash April 19, 1560) was a German professor and theologian Of the sermons which he delivered in the cathedral before many hearers, only a few have been preserved. They are distinguished by temperate and lucid exposition.

When, in spite of his efforts to the contrary, the Schmalkald War broke out, George received under his roof the fugitive Camerarius and his family; interceded for Jonas, who had incurred Maurice's anger; and sought to restrain the clergy from "suspicious and frivolous words that might serve to cause discord. The Schmalkaldic War (Schmalkaldischer Krieg refers to the short period of violence from 1546 until 1547 between the forces of Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League Joachim Camerarius ( April 12, 1500 &ndash April 17, 1574) the Elder, German classical scholar was born at Justus Jonas ( 5 June 1493 - 9 October 1555) was a German Protestant reformer " Although he "hated" the Augsburg Interim, he felt that he ought to lend a hand in the preparation of the Leipsic Interim, in order to preclude still worse results. The Augsburg Interim was an imperial decree ordered on May 15, 1548, at the Diet of Augsburg, after Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, defeated the In 1549 the emperor's candidate Michael Heldingk (Sidonius) was postulated by the chapter as bishop of Merseburg. Bishopric of Merseburg was a former Episcopal see in Saxony with the center in Merseburg, founded at the same time in the same manner as those of Meissen Until his arrival, George was to continue administering the diocese. To strengthen the Lutheran confession as firmly as possible before the threatening storm, he now delivered his powerful sermons "On the False Prophets," and "On the Right Worthy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ," which are directed both against Rome and against the fanatics. Afterward he retired to his Anhalt estates. Sojourning mostly in Warmsdorf he continued to preach there, and when occasion offered sought to adjust the Osiandrian dispute. Andreas Osiander ( 19 December, 1498 &ndash 17 October 1552) was a German Lutheran theologian. He died unmarried at Dessau after lingering sickness, and Melanchthon composed his epitaph. His unfeigned piety, his gentleness and love of peace, his benevolence and freedom of service, gained him the honorable title of the "devout" or "pious. " His theology was that of Luther. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer

His personal library has been preserved intact, and is now part of the Anhaltische Landesbücherei at Dessau, along with an exhibition to honor his 500th birthday.

References

• This article includes content derived from the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1914, which is in the public domain. The Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge is a religious Encyclopedia (1st edition 1882-84 3rd edition 1891 new edition published in thirteen volumes The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone