Theses Doors All Saints' Church, Wittenberg

theses doors , commemorating luthers 95 theses

the main portal used university staff pin messages , notices; believed on 31 october 1517, eve of saints day, martin luther posted ninety-five theses on doors of saints church. act, meant promote disputation on sale of indulgences, commonly viewed catalyst protestant reformation. whether event took place or not, however, cannot conclusively established. nevertheless, luther sent objections in letter archbishop albert of mainz on same day.

frederick wise died in 1525 , buried in castle church. in same year, lutheran rite implemented. church became burial site of martin luther himself in 1546, , of philipp melanchthon in 1560.

when during 7 years war wittenberg fortress occupied prussian army , shelled imperial forces in 1760, castle church destroyed fire resulting bombardment. blaze left half of foundation standing, , none of wooden portals survived. saints rebuilt, albeit without many priceless works of art lost forever.

after wittenberg incorporated prussian province of saxony, king frederick william iv, in 1858, ordered commemorative bronze doors mounted onto jambs original wooden ones had been located. on doors theses inscribed in original latin form. doors weigh 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg). ornaments modelled friedrich drake. on 10 november 1858, 375 years after martin luther s birth, new doors commemorated @ formal ceremony. above doors tympanum crucifixion painting portrays luther on left german bible translation, , philipp melanchthon on right, 1530 augsburg confession, main confession of faith in lutheran church formed luther , melanchthon. these doors among photographed in europe.