Dresden
City on the Elbe, residence of the electors of Saxony. The Book of Concord, the collected confessions of the Lutheran churches, was published here in 1580 under the elector Augustus.
Dresden lies on the river Elbe in Saxony. The elector Augustus of Saxony called the theologians to Torgau in 1576 whose work became the Formula of Concord, and his name stands second among the signers of the preface to the Book of Concord (Book of Concord, preface 12, 25). F. Bente’s description of the first edition, cited in the dating note of the Book of Concord, reports the imprint “Dresden MDLXXX” on its title page.
What happened here
- 25 June 1580, firm dateThe Book of Concord
After years of disputes among Lutherans following Luther’s death, six theologians sign the Formula of Concord in 1577. In 1580 Lutheran electors, princes and cities publish it with the Augsburg Confession, Luther’s catechisms and the ancient creeds as one Book of Concord.
Primary sources
The Book of Concord
- Book of Concord, preface 12, 25bookofconcord.org