The Evangelical Church in Saxony and Lower Saxony in the Confessional Age

Abstract

The organization of the Evangelical Church in the German territories during early modern age is considered. The reception of ideological heritage of early Christianity in the practice of the evangelical communities in the Electorate of Saxony and Lower Saxony lands is characterized. Church orders of Saxony’ and Lower Saxony’ territories are analyzed. It is noted that the content of evangelical charters corresponded to the interests of territorial authority. It is defined that a gradual transition from democratic ideas of early Christianity to the principles of hierarchy and subordination occurred during the confessional age.