Pierre Viret
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Pierre Viret (Orbe 1511 - Orthez 1571) was a Swiss reformed theologian.
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[edit] Youth
Pierre Viret was born in Orbe, a small Swiss town in 1511. His parents were poor.
He studied as a scholar and then attended the University of Paris. William Farel and some of his teachers who were Lutheran sympathizers makes him convert to Reformation faith.
[edit] Preaching
Subsequently, he preached in Lausanne and Geneva, before missionary tours in France preaching to crowds of thousands (Paris, Orléans, Avignon, Montauban, and Montpellier). Riots often followed his preaching.
One time, he was captured by Catholic forces. In France, Viret was considered as one of the most popular French-speaking preacher in 16th century.
But before all, he was the reformer of the city of Lausanne, where he converted the local population to the Reformation faith. In his time, Lausanne also became, with Geneva, a training ground for Reformation preachers. Among those who studied in Lausanne was the author of the Belgic Confession, Guido (Guy) de Bres.
[edit] Bibliographic sources
- Linder, Robert D. "Forgotten Reformer." Christian History.
- "Viret, Pierre." Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation
- Procedures Held With Regard to those of the Religion of the Netherlands (1568)
[edit] External links
- Several biographies in English and French
- Forgotten Reformer A biographical article in Christianity Today.
