A Miracle Among the Moravians
The Moravian Star is a Christmas decoration that has been used in homes and communities for some time. Cana and I have one hanging on our tree at home (actually it’s currently in need of repair after a sudden crash to the floor). While widely used, the rich history behind the 26-point star is not commonly known, but its story tells of God’s faithfulness with his people dating back centuries.
The star was created for the advent season by the Moravians who lived in Herrnhut, Germany. They were descendants of Hussites who followed the teachings of the reformer John Hus. John Hus was burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Church in 1415 (over 100 years before Martin Luther’s 95 thesis) for seeking reform in the church through preaching and reading Scripture in the people’s own language. Those influenced by his teaching from scripture known as “Hussites” fled from Prague because of the persecution.
Over three centuries later, in 1722, the Hussite refugees finally found refuge from the ongoing persecution at an estate owned by Count Zinzendorf in Moravia. The Herrnhut settlement of Christian refugees quickly began to grow and eventually broke numbers into the thousands. Believers willing to abide by the Christian standards of living in Herrnhut and looking for a space to freely practice their faith joined the Moravian community. The settlement was never intended to be a place of isolation from the surrounding people. Rather, it was intended as a space for people to freely practice their faith. Herrnhut became a community for Christians with various backgrounds who were seeking reform and avoiding persecution from the Catholic Church.
A community comprised of believers with various backgrounds did not come without its own challenges. To counter the dissension and conflict in the community in its early years, the Moravians chose to devote themselves to communal prayer. They began a 24-hour prayer meeting where groups of people would meet each hour of the day at a watchtower on a hill in town. Little did they know that this prayer meeting would continue for over 100 years of constant intercession around the clock. This prayer movement has often been referred to as the “Moravian Miracle” because of its longevity and influence in their communal life.
The communities distinctives of prayer and the reading of scripture in their own language were not just outward signs of their faith, but it created a deep lasting impact to those living in Herrnhut and those outside. The settlement was no longer described as a place of division but of unity despite their ongoing differences. Herrnhut was well respected among the surrounding towns, and visitors and passersby often noted the unique hospitality and generosity shown to them. Additionally, the Moravians began to grow in their desire for those around the world who did not have access to the gospel message. After just 65 years of the ongoing prayer meeting, the small settlement of Moravians had already sent out over 300 of their own people as missionaries. These members of the community who committed themselves to lifelong missions were sent to places including India, the Americas, isolated regions in West Africa, and much of Europe. Their dedication to missionary service often guaranteed they would never be able to return to their community in Herrnhut, and a few of the missionaries are even recorded selling themselves into slavery as the only suitable way to gain access to some specific people groups. This missionary movement was radical for their time period as most Moravian missionaries were sent out before the time of William Carry known as “the father of modern missions.”
This Christmas star used by the Moravians is a unique reminder of the dramatic change the Lord is capable of doing among His people when they devote themselves to Him. After visiting Herrnhut in 1738, John Wesley was so impressed that he commented, “I would gladly have spent my life here…. Oh, when shall this Christianity cover the earth as the waters cover the sea?”
Jacob Abrahamson
Youth Pastor
*The photo below is from when Cana and I visited Herrnhut this fall. It is taken from the top of the watchtower with the outskirts of the town below.
