Reformation Day

Reformation Day commemorates October 31, 1517, when the German monk and theology professor Martin Luther is traditionally said to have posted his Ninety Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, challenging the sale of indulgences and the authority claimed by the papacy over the forgiveness of sins. That act, whether nailed to a door or simply circulated among scholars, set in motion the Protestant Reformation, a movement that reshaped Christianity around convictions later summarized as the five solas: salvation by grace alone, received through faith alone, grounded in scripture alone, through Christ alone, for God's glory alone. The Reformation produced the Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and later Baptist and Methodist traditions, and it permanently divided Western Christianity. Catholic and Orthodox Christians do not observe this day, and many Christians today hold it with mixed feelings, grateful for renewed emphasis on scripture and grace, while mourning the church unity that was lost.

Romans 1:17

“For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."”

Lutheran and other Protestant congregations mark Reformation Day, or the Sunday nearest it, with special services featuring red paraments and vestments symbolizing the Holy Spirit, along with Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Sermons and Sunday school lessons often walk through the five solas and the events of 1517. Confirmation classes frequently study the Reformation around this time. In parts of Germany, Slovenia, and a few other regions it is an official public holiday. It is not a Catholic or Orthodox observance, and some ecumenical congregations use the day for interfaith dialogue instead.

Reformation Day is one thread in the wider rhythm of the church year. See how it sits alongside the other feasts on the full Christian holiday calendar, or read more about Christ the King and The Transfiguration. To understand how these observances shaped the nation, visit our Faith & America hub, and keep the Christian glossary close for any unfamiliar terms.