Treuenbrietzen Birthplace of Martin Chemnitz

Son of Our City, Dr. Martin Chemntiz
1522 - 1586
"He fought for Luther's teaching."

Portrait of Martin Chemnitz

While driving from Berlin to Wittenberg this afternoon, we stopped in a town called Treuenbrietzen, the birthplace of Martin Chemnitz. He was born 9 November 1522 and lived in Treuenbrietzen until he was old enough to go to school in Magdeburg. Martin's father, Paul, died when he was eleven years old. In 1545, Martin Chemnitz studied in Wittenberg under Melanchton and Martin Luther. After Luther's death, Chemnitz matriculated to several universities until he returned to the University of Wittenberg to lecture on Melanthon's Loci Communes in January 1554. By November 1554, Chemnitz was ordained into the Holy Ministry. In 1567, Chemnitz became the superintendent of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, where he remained the rest of his life. He was one of the primary drafters of the Formula of Concord. Martin Chemnitz is known as Alter Martinus, the "Second Martin": Si Martinus non fuisset, Martinus vix stetisset ("If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived"). It was a great joy to stop in the town where Martin Chemnitz was born and baptized. President Harrison gives a brief video overview below.

Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church)
Place Chemnitz was Baptized

Another view of Marienkirche

Parsonage for Marienkirche

Oldest Residence in Treuenbrietzen
Martin Chemnitz probably lived in a building like this

Walking down the streets of Treuenbrietzen, the wooden houses reminded me of the wooden homes found in Tomsk, Siberia, Russia. Tomsk was settled in the 17th century by Lutheran Germans; it isn't surprising that there are some similarities between the buildings.