Date: 23-27 October 2003
Type of event: Commemoration
Topic: "Commemoration of the servetus 450 death aniversary"
Institution/Location: Hosted by John Knox International
Reformed Centre, Geneva
Web address: http://www.icuu.org.uk/news/Servetus_Event.php
Sponsors: International Council of Unitarians and Universalists
(ICUU)
Registration: NA
Program:
The life, work and martyrdom of Michael Servetus together
comprise one of the foundation stones of the modern Unitarian
tradition. They also represent a crucial stage in the struggle
for religious liberty and human rights that originated in
the turbulent years of the Protestant Reformation. The 450th
anniversary of Servetus' death by fire in Calvin's Geneva
falls this October 27th.
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists
(ICUU) is commemorating this anniversary with a weekend event
in Geneva, to be held 23rd-27th October, 2003 at the John
Knox International Reformed Centre. The weekend will include
papers, worship and drama and will conclude with a commemorative
ceremony on the site of Servetus' death.
The Rev. Dr. Elek Rezi is Deputy Bishop of the Transylvanian
Unitarian Church and Dean of the Unitarian Theological Faculty
in Koloszvar. He will speak on the influence of Servetus on
Francis David and the beginnings of the Transylvanian / Hungarian
Unitarian tradition.
The Rev. Andrew Hill is minister of St. Mark's Unitarian
Church in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a leading British Unitarian
historian. He will advance the provocative thesis that the
Unitarian tradition actually owes more to John Calvin than
it does to Servetus.
The Rev. Dr. Peter Hughes is vice-president of the Unitarian
Universalist Historical Society, and chief editor of the on-line
Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist Biography. With his wife,
Lynn, he is currently planning a fiftieth anniversary reprint
of Roland H. Bainton's definitive 1953 biography, "Hunted
Heretic: the Life and Death of Servetus." Although specialising
in Universalist history, he has a fondness for Servetus studies
and will speak on the sacrificial significance of Servetus'
death.
The principal worship service will be held on Sunday morning
and there will then be an opportunity to take a tour of Geneva.
A dramatic presentation on Servetus is planned for Sunday
evening. On Monday morning, as representatives of the global
Unitarian / Universalist community, participants will gather
for an act of remembrance at the place where Servetus suffered
his martyr's death.
This is the opportunity for the current generation of Unitarian
/ Universalists to pay tribute to one of our most illustrious
forbears and to evaluate his significance 450 years on.
Cost of accommodation per person, including conference fee
and all meals:
Double room: Sfr. 425 - UK £215 - US $300
Single room: Sfr. 520 - UK £260 - US $365
There is an early bird discount of Sfr. 40, UK £20 or
US$30 for bookings received by 16th April.
For further information, please contact:
Ivanka Fiserova - ICUU Administrative Office
Karlova 8
110 00 Prague / Praha 1
Czech Republic
Tel: (+420) 222 222 105;
Fax: (+420) 222 222Â 197
Email: icuu@iol.cz
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