Press Release No: 15/29
8 July 2015
Brussels

In two days of performances, public speeches, and ecumenical prayer, CEC joined in commemorating the 600th anniversary of the death of Jan Hus. Events took place in Prague, the city where Hus lived and preached, on 5 and 6 July 2015.

The Czech reformer was instrumental in Hussite uprisings that led to historic church reforms, including the translation of scripture into popular language. Hus was eventually arrested, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake on 6 July 1415.

CEC General Secretary Rev. Dr Guy Liagre addressed participants on the importance of Hus’s contributions to the church, both then and now. At observances in the Karolus University (Prague), Liagre remarked, “In a dark period of history, Hus called his followers to intellectual and religious freedom, and emancipation from oppression.”

At a morning service that drew together friends from around the world, Liagre further reflected on the importance of commemorating this early reformer. “We still see the importance of his legacy in the struggle for freedom of religion and belief today.”

Commemorations in Prague were a project of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, two CEC Member Churches. For more information on these events, and on the life and legacy of Jan Hus, please visit hus-fest.eu.

For more information or an interview, please contact:

Erin Green
Communication Coordinator
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 234 68 42
Fax +32 2 231 14 13
E-mail: eeg@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 114 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 national council of churches and organisations in partnership. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.