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
News
Clergy in Ukraine work to heal psychological trauma of war
Clergy in Ukraine work to heal psychological trauma of war

Returning soldiers and families feel the strain of war, but clergy are not immune either, says a local bishop.

Church's mission unchanged, says bishop as Isle of Man moves to end voting rights
Church's mission unchanged, says bishop as Isle of Man moves to end voting rights

The Isle of Man has come a step closer to removing the voting rights of the local bishop after a vote on a constitutional bill in the Tynwald.

Salvation Army launches appeal to keep rough sleepers warm this winter
Salvation Army launches appeal to keep rough sleepers warm this winter

With winter setting in, the Street branch of The Salvation Army in Somerset has launched a local campaign to collect clean good-quality sleeping bags for people experiencing homelessness.

Cultivating the fruits of the Spirit: Kindness that heals and restores
Cultivating the fruits of the Spirit: Kindness that heals and restores

As we continue our journey through the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), we arrive at kindness — a virtue that often seems simple enough, yet carries divine power to heal, restore and reveal the very heart of God.