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0:00:09 > 0:00:13- 2017 is a very special year - for the Protestant churches.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- 500 years ago in Wittenberg, - Germany...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18- ..a monk called Martin Luther...
0:00:18 > 0:00:22- ..nailed a 95 article document - to the door of the church.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27- This was the visual symbol of the - start of the Protestant Reformation.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- Welcome to Dechrau Canu - Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:35 > 0:00:40- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:43 > 0:00:48- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- On this programme...
0:01:05 > 0:01:09- ..Revd Dr Alun Tudur will talk about - Martin Luther's background.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15- Martin Luther is one of the main - reasons why we hold this in Welsh.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22- There'll be a performance - from Christian singer John Nicholas.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26- We'll also hear - from Reverend Aled Edwards...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- ..about the way - the church is taking a stand today.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32- The church is fearless.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37- It stands up for those - who need support and justice.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49- There's a collection - of Martin Luther's quotes...
0:01:49 > 0:01:53- ..which were recorded when he spoke - to his students around a table.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55- One of these is...
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- .."As long as we live, - there is never enough singing."
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- That's very appropriate - for Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05- For the first hymn...
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- ..we join the congregation - at St David's Cathedral.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- They're D Miall Edwards's words.
0:02:12 > 0:02:18- "O Dduw, ein craig a'n noddfa, - rho nawdd i'r gwan a'r tlawd."
0:04:17 > 0:04:23- Revd Dr Alun Tudur is the pastor - of Ebeneser Church in Cardiff.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- He has great interest - in Martin Luther's life.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- Alun, who was Martin Luther?
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- At the beginning - of the Protestant Reformation...
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- ..Martin Luther was an unknown monk.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47- His father - was a fairly well-off miner.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- Martin Luther received quite - a good education for that time.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- He considered becoming a lawyer...
0:04:55 > 0:05:00- ..but later decided to be a monk - in a closed order.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- He fought against the Church. What - were its weaknesses in his view?
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- Martin Luther thought - there was corruption in the Church.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14- People were misusing its authority - at the expense of ordinary people.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17- One thing that got under his skin...
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- ..was indulgences.
0:05:21 > 0:05:27- The Pope claimed he had - the authority to forgive people.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28- But he asked for money.
0:05:28 > 0:05:34- In Germany, he had - a special fundraising officer...
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- ..who sold indulgences...
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- ..in order to build - St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46- You could buy forgiveness - for all sorts of sins.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51- More than that, it was possible - to release people from purgatory.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52- Cash only!
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- The Catholic church's doctrine - at the time...
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- ..was that, after dying, people's - souls would go to purgatory.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- In purgatory, they'd wait thousands - of years being cleaned and purified.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11- When they were clean enough, - they were released to heaven.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16- At the time, - he was preparing biblical studies...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- ..on Paul's letter to the Romans.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- He read the two verses, 16 and 17, - of the first chapter.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29- "I am not ashamed of the gospel of - Christ for it is the power of God...
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- "..unto salvation - to every one that believeth...
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- "..to the Jew first, - and also to the Greek.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- "For therein - is the righteousness of God...
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- "..revealed from faith to faith: - as it is written...
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- " 'The just shall live by faith'."
0:06:46 > 0:06:51- Martin Luther realized that buying - indulgences from the church...
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- ..wasn't the way to salvation.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- Doing good deeds wasn't either.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01- Rather, it was through simple faith - and a belief in Jesus Christ.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06- That was one of the cornerstones - of the Protestant Reformation.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17- He then performed the dramatic act - of nailing the 95 articles...
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- ..on the door of the church - in Wittenberg.
0:07:20 > 0:07:27- Apparently, on that day, 31 October, - 1517 - All Hallows Eve...
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- ..he'd left his monastery - on one side of Wittenberg...
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- ..walked around half a mile...
0:07:34 > 0:07:38- ..to Castle Church - on the other side of the town.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42- He nailed the 95 theses or articles - on the church door.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- The aim was to start a discussion.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50- The main bone of contention was - the sale of indulgences to people.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- They disadvantaged the poor, - if they were real.
0:07:54 > 0:08:00- One of the 95 articles was written - tongue-in-cheek - number 82.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05- "Why does the Pope - in his love and kindness...
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- "..not deliver all souls - out of purgatory free of charge?"
0:08:12 > 0:08:18- The Protestant Reformation - grew into a large movement...
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- ..which changed the course - of the Christian church in Europe.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- Is it important therefore that - we celebrate the 500th anniversary?
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Yes, because the influence - on Wales...
0:08:38 > 0:08:41- ..and on every nation in the world - is huge.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46- Crucial to us as Welsh speakers, - Martin Luther decided...
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- ..that the Bible needed to be - available in the native language.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- He translated the Bible into German - in the 1520s.
0:08:56 > 0:09:02- Because of that, William Salesbury, - 450 years ago...
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- ..translated the New Testament - into Welsh.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Then William Morgan in 1588.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12- Martin Luther - might be one of the main reasons...
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- ..why we're doing this in Welsh.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Alun, thank you for talking to me.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Luther was a hymn writer - and a musician too.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- Next, we're going to sing his words - and a hymn tune he composed...
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- ..arranged by a great composer - of the Protestant Church...
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- ..Johann Sebastian Bach.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- This is - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- Another of Luther's quotes - is "next to the Word of God...
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- "..the noble art of music is - the greatest treasure in the world."
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- Performing for us next...
0:12:35 > 0:12:39- ..is the Christian singer - from Bridgend, John Nicholas.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41- This is Ystyr Cariad.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- # Teach me something - that I ought to know
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- # Teach me something - that will warm my soul
0:13:02 > 0:13:09- # Show me what my eyes fail to see
0:13:12 > 0:13:16- # Your words they fill my heart
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- # Let all of my fear depart
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- # If you want to know what love is
0:13:27 > 0:13:32- # If you want to know what love is
0:13:32 > 0:13:37- # If you want to know what love is
0:13:37 > 0:13:42- # Take a look at yourself - and how much you are loved
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- # We love because - we've been loved before
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- # Long before we ever knew
0:13:55 > 0:14:00- # I won't be anywhere - if it wasn't for you
0:14:04 > 0:14:09- # Your words they fill my heart
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- # Let all of my fear depart
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- # If you want to know what love is
0:14:20 > 0:14:24- # If you want to know what love is
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- # If you want to know what love is
0:14:29 > 0:14:35- # Take a look at yourself - and how much you are loved
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- # Throw your arms - around this wandering soul
0:14:41 > 0:14:45- # Take my hand, don't ever let go
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- # Throw your arms - around this wandering soul
0:14:52 > 0:14:56- # Take my hand, don't ever let go
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:10 > 0:15:14- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:15 > 0:15:20- # Take a look at yourself - and how much you're loved
0:15:21 > 0:15:25- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:26 > 0:15:31- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- # If you want to know what love is
0:15:36 > 0:15:42- # Take a look at yourself - and how much you're loved #
0:15:58 > 0:16:02- As a matter of conscience - and principle...
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- ..Martin Luther made his stand.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- Sometimes, - the church must do the same.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- Joining me now - is Reverend Aled Edwards.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- Aled, you've brought me - to St John's Church in Cardiff.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- What's the significance - of this building?
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- It has a special history.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- From this church in 1315, - Llywelyn Bren was executed...
0:16:32 > 0:16:36- ..mainly because - he'd taken a brave stand...
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- ..in support of the poor - of this area against the Normans.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- He was encouraged - to go to Parliament in London...
0:16:43 > 0:16:47- ..when Edward II told him - that if he was found guilty...
0:16:47 > 0:16:49- ..he'd be hanged.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- There was a rebellion here - and he made a stand.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- When he realized the military forces - were against him...
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- ..he sacrificed himself - to save his men.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- What's striking...
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- ..is that when Owain Glyndwr - came here about a century later...
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- ..he burnt Cardiff to the ground - including this church...
0:17:12 > 0:17:16- ..apart - from the Greyfriars' buildings...
0:17:16 > 0:17:20- ..because they were the only ones - willing to bury Llywelyn Bren.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- Glyndwr remembered that.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- The modern church is courageous...
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- ..more so than perhaps - any other part of society...
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- ..in standing up for those - who need support and justice.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41- Desmond Tutu recently challenged - Myanmar's authorities.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47- He told them they had to stop - the genocide taking place there...
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- ..that's creating - millions of refugees.
0:17:50 > 0:17:56- It's striking in terms of what - happened in Syria and the refugees.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01- The churches in Greece - fed the people as they arrived.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- The churches spoke up for them.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10- In America, - there have been racial tensions.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- It's the churches - that have often challenged those.
0:18:16 > 0:18:22- Here, in St John's Church, Muslims - come here and the poor come here.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- Around the corner - is where the city's poor are fed.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31- Very often, it's the churches that - speak on behalf of these people.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36- When we speak on a political level, - it can challenge politicians.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- Martin Luther's legacy of protest...
0:18:39 > 0:18:43- ..is alive and very real - to us as Christians today.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- It can be seen in Wales, - in the UK, Europe...
0:18:47 > 0:18:49- ..and, I'm sure, - across the world too...
0:18:49 > 0:18:54- ..where churches need to be - fearless, prophetic and confident.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49- One of the important things - Martin Luther taught us...
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- ..is the need - for us as Christians...
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- ..to stand up against injustice - inside and outside the church.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02- When we see people using his - authority to trample on others...
0:21:03 > 0:21:07- ..we should stand with them - on the side of justice and truth.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- One of Martin Luther's - most famous quotes is...
0:21:11 > 0:21:16- .."Here I stand. - I cannot do otherwise. God help me."
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- We finish this programme in the - village of Gwalchmai on Anglesey.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32- The hymn was written - by a native of Anglesey, Morswyn.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38- "Arglwydd Iesu, arwain f'enaid - at y Graig sydd uwch na mi."
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- I hope you've enjoyed the programme.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- We look forward - to having your company next week.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47- Until then, goodbye.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:24:18 > 0:24:18- .