German Editions of the “Formula of Concord” of the 16th century in the Collection of the Russian State Library

The author considers the publications of the “Formula of Concord” (lat. Formula Concordiae), one of the principal symbolic books of Lutheranism. For the first time the article reveals part of the collections of the Russian State Library (RSL), containing within the displaced cultural values ten editions of the “Formula of Concord” in German, the first of them (Dresden, 1580, Shtekel and Berg Printers) is presented in four copies. The article traces the entire history of the monument, which is equal by dogmatic significance to the “Augsburg Confession” — the earliest exposition of the doctrinal statements of Lutheranism. “Book of Concord” was supposed to stop the strife between Orthodox Gnesiolutherans and Pro-Calvinist Melanchthonists that arose after Luther’s death, when his friend and associate Philip Melanchthon, inclined to Calvinism, became the head of Lutherans. In matters of faith, he showed pliability, which provoked conflicts. Jacob Andreae became the author of the concise version of Concordia. Martin Chemnitz took over the editorship of the article “On Free Will”, and David Khitreus, who was involved in the issues of Communion, joined the work. The first version of the “Formula of Concord” was completed in the summer of 1576 in the city of Torgau, where Elector Augustus of Saxony convened the theological Convention. After receiving comments and minor amendments, the document was solemnly signed in Berg on May 29, 1577.

The author analyses the composition of the book. The original version in 12 articles was written in German, and then translated into Latin by Lucas Osiander. However, the desire to unite all Lutheran churches under the auspices of the new symbol did not succeed — the “Formula of Concord” received Church’s recognition only in the electorates of Saxony and some other areas.

The study of all ten copies of “Concordia” from the RSL leads to the conclusion that this almost complete collection of all published editions of “Formula of Concord” gives a largely comprehensive view of them: demonstrates borrowings, imitations of the first edition (Dresden, 1580), as well as features and innovations of individual publications. Some of them are unique, for example, the personal copy of the Saxon elector Augustus or the illuminated copy belonged to the Dukes of Saxony. The article may be of interest to art historians, book historians, source researchers and museum workers.

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5. Dolgodrova T.A. Katalog perepletov Yakoba Krauze i masterov ego kruga [Catalog of Bindings of Jakob Krause and Masters of his Circle], part 1. Moscow, Pashkov Dom Publ., 2015, 655 p. (Kollektsii Rossiiskoi gosudarstvennoi biblioteki [Collections of the Russian State Library]).

6. Verzeichnis der im deutschen Sprachbereich erschienenen Drucke des XVI. Jahrhunderts. Stuttgart, Hiersemann Publ., 1987, vol. 10, 692 p.

7. Concordia... Christliche, widerholete, einmütige Bekentnus nachbenanter Churfürsten, Fürsten und Stende Augspurgischer Confession und derselben Theologen Lere und glaubens. Mit angeheffter in Gottes wort, als der einigen Richtschnur wolgegründter erklerung etlicher Artickel, bey welchen nach D. Martin Luthers seligen absterben Disputation und streit vorgefallen... Dresden, Matthes Stöckel und Gimel Bergen Publ., 1580.

8. Rabenau K. von. Deutsche Bucheinbände der Renaissance um Jakob Krause, Hofbuchbinder des Kurfürsten August I. Von Sachsen. Aachen, Intern. Vereinig. Meister der Einbandkunst Publ., Brüssel, Bibliotheca Wittockiana Publ., 1994, 205 p.

9. Schmidt Chr. Jakob Krause: ein Kursächsischer Hofbuchbinder des 16. Jahrhunderts. Leipzig, 1923, pp. 36—37.

10. Concordia. Christliche, Widerholete, einmütige Bekentnüs... Churfürsten, Fürsten und Stende Augspurgischer Confession, und... Theologen Lere und glaubens. Mit angeheffter... erklerung etlicher Artickel, bey welchen nach... Martin Luthers... absterben, disputation und streit vorgefallen... [Vorzeichnus der Zeugnissen heiliger Schrifft, und der alten reinen Kirchen Lerer...]. Franckfurt an der Oder, Johan Eichorn Publ., 1581.

11. Allgemeines Lexicon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart... T. 1—37. T. 17. Leipzig, E.A. Seemann Publ., 1926, p. 90.

12. Concordia. Christliche, Widerholete... Bekentnüs... Churfürsten, Fürsten und Stende Augspurgischer Confession... und ...Theologen Lere und Glaubens. Mit angeheffter... erklerung etlicher Artickel, bey welchen nach... Martin Luthers... absterben, disputation und streit vorgefallen... [Vorzeichnüs der Zeugnissen heiliger Schrifft, und der alten reinen Kirchen Lerer...]. Dressden [Dresden], Matthes Stöckel Publ., 1598.

13. Dolgodrova T.A. Katalog perepletov Yakoba Krauze i masterov ego kruga [Catalog of Bindings of Jakob Krause and Masters of his Circle], part 2. Moscow, Pashkov Dom Publ., 2017, 512 p. (Kollektsii Rossiiskoi gosudarstvennoi biblioteki [Collections of the Russian State Library]).

14. Concordia. Christliche, Widerholete... Bekentnüs... Churfürsten, Fürsten und Stende Augspurgischer Confession und... Theologen Lehre und Glaubens. Mit angeheffter... erklärung etlicher Artickel, bey welchen nach... Martin Luthers... absterben, Disputation und Streit vorgefallen... [Vorzeichnüs der Zeugnissen heiliger Schrifft, und der alten reinen Kirchenlehrer...]. Tübingen, Georgen Gruppenbach Publ., 1580.