In this square where heretics were sentenced to death by fire, the Bible is read out loud to mark the Reformation

JL Andavert of the Bible Society of Spain reads from the Bible in Madrid Bible Society of Spain/Facebook

Two hundred people met in Spain in a public reading of the Bible to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The reading took place in Plaza Mayor in Madrid, where during the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition, heretics and apostates were tried and condemned before being burned to death outside the city walls.

Spain's Bible Society organised the reading with Evangelical Council of Madrid. The city sponsored the event.

Last Sunday, the 200 evangelicals read from a version of the Bible translated by Protestant monks Reina and Valera, exiled by the Inquisition.

Men and women took turns to read the different chapters of St John's Gospel.

There were five public trials in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid from 1621; of 162 people accused, 29 were sentenced to death by fire. Many more were hanged or clubbed to death.

The Spanish Bible Society was formally established in 1836 by Jorge Barrow, but Bible Society missionaries had been working in the country for several decades before that.

This year is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of the castle chapel in the German town of Wittenberg  and is being celebrated with events around the world.

1683 painting by Francisco Rizi depicting the auto-da-fé held in Plaza Mayor, Madrid in 1680 Wiki Commons
Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Sarah Mullally prays with Pope Leo XIV
Sarah Mullally prays with Pope Leo XIV

Sarah Mullally referred to previous ecumenical meetings between Anglican and Catholic heads.

Missionary behind milestone Paraguay Bible translation to retire after 44 years of service
Missionary behind milestone Paraguay Bible translation to retire after 44 years of service

A missionary whose work helped bring the Bible to indigenous communities in Paraguay’s remote Chaco region is retiring after 44 years of ministry and translation work.

Calls to EU to move beyond words as Syria’s Christians face escalating violence
Calls to EU to move beyond words as Syria’s Christians face escalating violence

Fresh criticism is being directed at European leaders over what campaigners describe as a failure to take meaningful action to protect Syria’s Christian communities amid renewed sectarian violence and reports of incessant persecution.

Documentary celebrates women in Church ministry
Documentary celebrates women in Church ministry

Living Loving Serving: Women Leaders in the Church is the debut documentary film from Keep the Faith, Britain’s leading magazine about the black Christian community.