Jan Hus

Jan Hus (1369 Husinec, Southern Bohemia – July 6, 1415 Constance) was a religious thinker and reformer. He initiated a religious movement based on the ideas of John Wyclif. His followers became known as Hussites. The Catholic Church did not condone such uprisings, and Hus was excommunicated in 1411, condemned by the Council of Constance, and burned at the stake.

Early life and studies

John Hus, the famous reformer from Bohemia, was born at Husinec (75 km s. s. w. of Prague) July 6, 1369, as commonly given; but the day is an inference from the fact that his followers honored his memory on July 6, the day of his death, and the year is probably too late; he was burned at the stake in Constance, July 6, 1415. John Huss is his common English designation, but the name is more correctly written, according to Czech spelling, Hus. It is an abbreviation from his birthplace made by himself about 1399; in earlier life he was always known as Jan Husinecký, or, in Latin, Johannes de Hussinetz. His parents were Czechs, in narrow circumstances.

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Like Martin Luther, he had to earn his living by singing and performing humble services in the Church. He felt inclined toward the clerical profession, not so much by an inner impulse as by the attraction of the tranquil life of the clergy. He studied at Prague, where he must have been as late as the middle of the eighties. He was greatly influenced by Stanislav ze Znojma, who later was long

Related Topics:
Martin Luther - Church - Stanislav ze Znojma

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his intimate friend, but finally his bitter enemy. As a student Hus did not distinguish himself. The learned quotations of which he boasted in his writings were mostly taken from Wyclif's works. A hot temper and arrogance were traits of his character, and he was not free from sophistry. In 1393 he became bachelor of arts, in 1394 bachelor of theology, and in 1396 master of arts. In 1400 he was ordained priest, in 1401 he became dean of the philosophical faculty, and in the following year rector of Charles University. In 1402 he was appointed also preacher of the Bethlehem Church in Prague, where he preached in the Czech language.

Related Topics:
Wyclif - Sophistry - 1393 - Bachelor of arts - 1394 - Bachelor of theology - 1396 - Master of arts - 1400 - Priest - 1401 - Dean - Philosophical faculty - Rector - Charles University - 1402 - Czech language

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