The Waldensians

The Waldensians. A Story of Faith and Courage. , (Panel 1) , Where and How the Story Began. , In May of 1893 Burke County was buzzing with rumors about Waldensians coming to establish a colony between Morganton and Connelly Springs. Truth is, most of the people who would be their neighbors knew little about these "furriners," who the gossips said had been "run out of Europe because they were heretics!" , Some might ask today the same questions Burke County folks were asking back then: "Who are these Waldensians, and why did they come to North Carolina?" , Theirs is a story of faith and courage that began long ago in the mountains of Italy. , During the Dark Ages, from a remote valley high in the Cottian Alps between Italy and France, men disguised as merchants and tradesmen set out to carry the light of the Gospel throughout Europe. These were the Waldensians, the oldest known Protestant group in the world today. , Quite possibly, the light of their faith was kindled by the Apostles themselves, who may have traversed the Alpine valleys on their way to evangelize France and other parts of Europe. Most records of Waldensian history were destroyed during hundreds of years of persecution and massacre, but Olivetan's preface to the French Bible affirms Waldensian claims to have known the Truth contained in Scripture ever since being "blessed and enriched therewith by the Apostles and Ambassadors of Christ." , When asked how old is their faith, for generations Waldensian parents have told their children, "From time immemorial." , Go, ye, therefore and teach all nations...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20) , (Panel 2) , Virtually unknown to the world, Waldensians for centuries quietly lived out the Christian faith in their daily life as farmers in the obscurity of their remote and virtually inaccessible Alpine valleys. The name "Waldensian" ("Valdesi" in Italian) means "people of the valley." There they lived peacefully in small isolated hamlets, with houses tightly clustered so that every available foot of land could be used for farming. , Their lives, however, would change dramatically in the Twelfth Century, when a charismatic leader, expelled from France by Church officials angered by his preaching, fled with some of his followers across the mountains and discovered a haven of like-minded believers on the Italian side of the Alps., (Panel 3) , Around 1173 Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant of Lyon (France), sought a more authentic Christian experience. All copies of Scripture at that time were in Latin, and only ordained alergy had access to them. Waldo paid a priest to translate the Gospels into his native dialect. , Deeply convicted by Christ's words to the rich young ruler, "Sell all you have and follow me", Waldo abandoned his business, took a vow of poverty, and distributed his wealth to the poor, None of those actions drew ire from the Church, but Waldo's next move was to share publicly his personal convictions drawn from Scripture. His "preaching" drew many followers, then known as "The Poor of Lyon." , In that day only those ordained by the Church had authority to preach. Thus, when Waldo, a layman, ingored the Church's orders to stop preaching, he and his followers were excommunicated and exiled from France. Some took refuge in the Italian Alps. There the spiritually like-minded Waldensians embraced Waldo as their leader and took up his passion for evangelizing., (Panel 4) , Extensive evangelizing by the Waldensians became a threat to the established Church. In 1487 Pope Innocent VIl opened a crusade against the "heretics," declaring that "whoever kills a Waldensian will have pardon for his sins and the right to keep any property taken from his victim." For the next 200 years, Italian and French troops repeatedly swept through the Valleys, bringing widespread massacre and destruction. Smoking out worshipers hiding in a cave, for example, soldiers slaughtered them as they exited one-by-one., (Panel 5) In 1532 an historic milestone was reached when, after months of debate and prayer, Waldlensian barbas met with Reform leaders at Chanforan, a meadow in the Angrogna area, and formally aligned themselves with the Reformation Movement. A monument was erected in 1932 to commemorate the spot. , That alliance meant change for the Waldensians in the practice of their faith. Secrecy would be abandoned. They would worship in public assemblies rather than secret hiding places. They would erect temples [churches) and be served by resident pastors rather than itinerant preachers. French and Italian would become the official languages of the Waldensian Church, replacing Patois (the dialect of the Valleys). In fact, the 1532 Synod at Chanforan marked the last time Patois was used in a religious meeting. , (At right) Among the first temples built (clockwise from top right) were San Lorenzo (1555); Ciabas (1555); Serre [1555); and Prali (1556). , (Panel 6) , In 1689 a daring plan to retake their homeland would mark the most heroic chapter in Waldensian history. Against staggering odds, 900 determined refugees using tactics of guerilla warfare, time and again outmaneuvered and defeated thousands of seasoned French and Italian soldiers pitted against them. Napoleon would later cite their "Glorious Return" as one of the greatest feats in military annals. , Among their brave pastor / commanders in the "Glorious Return" was Henri Arnaud (left). , Camped at Sibaud, near the village of Bobbio in the Pallice Valley, the Waldensian fighters signed a covenant pledging fidelity to one another. They swore to fight to the death until all their valleys were reclaimed, That was September 1, 1689. , Two hundred years later a monument (above) would mark the exact spot where that oath was made, with the name of each parish chiseled into the stones., (Panel 7) , Severe restrictions on Waldensians would ebb and flow over the years as control shifted between Italy and France. At any time, Protestants not born in the Valleys might be banished, worshìp services banned, Waldensian schools closed, ministerial meetings forbidden. Waldensians might be excluded from universities and learned professions or from holding commissions in the army. , During the years of persecution, Waldensian children were denied the privilege of attending schools and colleges. An Englishman would come to their rescue. , After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, General Charles Beckwith, who fought with the British in that battle, learned of the Waldensians and wanted to help them. He moved to the Valleys and, over the next 30 years, built 165 schools. He also used his personal funds to send promising young men and women to schools in Switzerland to prepare for careers in ministry or teaching., (Panel 8) , In 1844 King Charles Albert visited the Valleys and was warmly welcomed despite warnings that the Waldensians would be hostile. In appreciation for their gracious reception of him, the King ordered that a fountain be set in Torre Pellice in honor of the Waldensians. Rarely does a monarch honor his people with a monument. Usually it's the other way around! , Even more magnanimous was the King's action on February 17, 1848, when he issued an "Edict of Emancipation" that restored to the Waldensians civil and political liberties taken from them centuries before. , That event is one of two celebrated even today by Waldensians here and abroad, the other one being the Glorious Return to their Valleys in August of 1689. , (Panel 9) , The Waldenses are admitted to the enjoyment of all the civil and political rights of our other subjects and freely to attend our schools both within and without the university and to obtain the academic degrees. No change however is made to the exercise of their worship and their own schools. , Carlo Alberto , King of Sardina , Duke of Savoy , (Panel 10) , When the Valleys were no longer plagued by the horrendous purgings of the past, another dire problem arose overpopulation. Soon small farms had been divided among children and children's children until the land could be divided no more. With starvation imminent, the only option for survival was emigration. , Word of land available in America offered hope. Two men traveled to North Carolina to evaluate a land offer in Burke County, but returned with a mixed report. One said the land was suitable for farming: the other saw only red clay and hillsides covered with trees and rocks picture far different from life in their fertile Valleys. Tensions mounted as families struggled with their decision but some had already sold their land. When the vote was taken in the church at Pomeretta they raised their hands, they had to go.