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Issue 22 : Waldensians: Medieval “Evangelicals”

Originally published in 1989

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Table of Contents

The Waldensians: From the Editor

The Waldensian Motto: Into Darkness, Light
Remembered by Their Enemies
A Prophet Without Honor

Waldo of Lyons
An Ancient and Undying Light

The Waldensians from the 12th Century to the Protestant Reformation

Giorgio Bouchard
The Donation of Constantine
The Pearl of Great Price
The Renaissance of the Gospel

A Brief Sketch of the Italian Reformation

Emidio Campi
A Time for Mourning, A Time for War

From the Reformation to the Glorious Return

John Hobbins
1989 - The 300th Anniversary of the Glorious Return

Giorgio Tourn
The Covenant of Sibaud 1689
A Friend in the Lord Protector

Oliver Cromwell and the Effort to Save the Waldensians
From Mountain Ghetto to Missionary Diaspora

Waldensians and the Modern Era

Giorgio Bouchard
Felix Neff

Apostle of Alpine Awakening

Giorgio Tourn
From Snow-Covered Peaks to Tropical Forests

Waldensians in Uruguay and Argentina
To A Home in the Land of the Free

The Waldensians in North America

Giuseppe Platene
From the Archives: A Letter From the Poor Lombards to the Poor of Lyons Who Are in Germany (1218)

This letter was sent from Lombardy to Lyons to express the outcome of an early meeting, which was held in Bergamo, Italy, between members of two separate Waldensian groups. Though the two groups differed in their approaches to the life of The Poor, the outcome of the meeting was a "new sense of unity."* [* Some descriptions used in these Archives are derived from those given in the text of Giorgio Tourn's You Are My Witnesses. These documents are taken from Tourn's book.]
From the Archives: Waldensian Legend Concerning the Donation of Constantine to Pope Sylvester (date unknown)

This early document tells in a remarkable and fanciful form the Waldensian story of how the Church had come to compromise with the world. Though The Poor were not around until the 12th century, mention is here made of their presence in the 4th century. They could, however, claim solidarity with ancient Christians who rejected worldly wealth and power.
From the Archives: La Nobla Leyczon (The Noble Lesson)

A 15th-century Waldensian poem
From the Archives: A Barba of San Martino (1451)

This is an excerpt from a written account of the heresy trial of Filippo Regis. Waldensians were routinely questioned about their knowledge of the elusive barba—the itinerant Waldensian spiritual leaders. Such accounts are often distorted: it is unlikely a barba would have taught to deny the virgin Birth, or to deny that "the sons" could perform miracles.
From the Archives: Subjects Discussed at the Meeting at Angrogna

(or, the Confession of Chanforan) 1532
From A Calabrian Prison (1560)

An excerpt from a letter of Waldensian pastor Giovan Paschale, who was hanged in Rome in 1560.

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Today in Christian History

December 5, 220 (traditional date): Clement of Alexandria, the first early church theologian to show an extensive knowledge of pagan and Christian writings (in his refutations of pagan criticisms), dies.

December 5, 532: Sabas, a monk since childhood, dies at age 91, five days after returning from a diplomatic mission to Constantinople. Though his primary desire was always for solitude with God, he founded a monastery in Palestine, Mar Saba, that still stands today (see issue 64: Antony and the Desert ...

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Issue 22 : Waldensians: Medieval “Evangelicals”

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