Issue 22

The Waldensian Motto: Into Darkness, Light

Waldo of Lyons

The Waldensians from the 12th Century to the Protestant Reformation

A Brief Sketch of the Italian Reformation

From the Reformation to the Glorious Return

Oliver Cromwell and the Effort to Save the Waldensians

Waldensians and the Modern Era

Apostle of Alpine Awakening

Waldensians in Uruguay and Argentina

The Waldensians in North America

This letter was sent from Lombardy to Lyons to express the outcome of an early meeting, which was held in Bergamo, Italy, between members of two separate Waldensian groups. Though the two groups differed in their approaches to the life of The Poor, the outcome of the meeting was a “new sense of unity.”* [* Some descriptions used in these Archives are derived from those given in the text of Giorgio Tourn’s You Are My Witnesses. These documents are taken from Tourn’s book.]

This early document tells in a remarkable and fanciful form the Waldensian story of how the Church had come to compromise with the world. Though The Poor were not around until the 12th century, mention is here made of their presence in the 4th century. They could, however, claim solidarity with ancient Christians who rejected worldly wealth and power.

A 15th-century Waldensian poem

This is an excerpt from a written account of the heresy trial of Filippo Regis. Waldensians were routinely questioned about their knowledge of the elusive barba—the itinerant Waldensian spiritual leaders. Such accounts are often distorted: it is unlikely a barba would have taught to deny the virgin Birth, or to deny that “the sons” could perform miracles.

(or, the Confession of Chanforan) 1532

An excerpt from a letter of Waldensian pastor Giovan Paschale, who was hanged in Rome in 1560.