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| Gendarmarkt with the German Cathedral, Concert Hall, and French Cathedral |
The Huguenots were Protestants from France who had been inspired by the writings of John Calvin. They were driven out of France by the Catholics due to their criticism of the Catholic Church. Many were murdered by the Catholic Church. Around 1685, Huguenot refugees found a safe haven in the Lutheran and Reformed states in Germany. Nearly 50,000 Huguenots established themselves in Germany, 20,000 of whom were welcomed in Brandenburg-Prussia where they were granted special privileges. In Berlin, the Huguenots created two new neighbourhoods: Dorotheenstadt and Friedrichstadt. By 1700, one-fifth of the city's population was French speaking. The Berlin Huguenots preserved the French language in their church services for nearly a century. They ultimately decided to switch to German in protest against the occupation of Prussia by Napoleion in 1806-07.
After learning all of this history, I understood why I was led by the Holy Spirit on an earlier prayer walk to a French Cemetery. While there, I read about a prominent French man who had helped plan and build the city of Berlin.
The Holy Spirit never forgets. He remembers how many Huguenots died for their faith. He remembers that they had to leave their home lands and be scattered all over the world as a result of religious persecution. Just like in the book of Acts when persecution scattered the early church, I believe the Lord pushed the Huguenots out of France to spread the gospel to the world.
While I walked around this square and claimed the ground for Jesus I felt His heart leap.
I also walked around a memorial to a woman who had been part of Germans royalty but have up her palace and conceded land to Poland. She work closely with former Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt. I have forgotten what her name was. As I walked around the memorial I envisioned worship taking place there.
