I knew that historically the Waldensians were Sabbath keepers and assumed that they continued to remain faithful to the fourth commandment to this day. From "The Waldensian Valleys" by Giorgio Tourn; Towns in the Upper Waldensian Valleys in 1526. In spite of this disappointing discovery, it was inspiring to visit several of the Waldensian churches scattered throughout the valleys of the Italian Alps and learn the history of their valiant fight against papal authority, which dates back to the 12th century. Copyright © 2012 Piedmont Families Organization, Inc. All information is intended for personal use only. Being a father and a grandfather, I had quite an emotional experience as I envisioned whole families making the steep trek up the mountain to their deaths, the fathers attempting to reassure their children of the love of God in spite of their ultimate fate. The determination and strong will of these faithful souls became more and more apparent as we toured the various places where they clung so tenaciously to their beliefs, beliefs which were based solely and completely on the Bible. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org. Note: Many maps and images on this site are in the public domain but the copyright status of others is not clear. It was in this valley, too, that the ancient Waldenses had a Bible school to train preachers and missionaries. In 2015, Pope Francis visited the Waldensian church in Turin, Italy. This work is incomplete. Rather the Arnoldisti: Humiliati of Italy; Petrobrusians and Albigensians of France and Apolostics of Rhine Valleys combined their zeal and labors to fuse the Waldensian policies of the individual worth of each human soul. Based largely on Osvaldo Coisson, I Nomi di Famiglia delle Valli Valdesi [Torre Pellice, 1975]. Prior to the trip, tour participants received detailed instructions regarding a rendezvous point at the airport in Milan. Perhaps, then, you can imagine my shock when I learned that today, the majority of those adhering to the Waldensian faith are Sunday keepers. We hope the copyright holders do not object to our non-profit use of them. John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. The Waldensian Heritage Museum preserves and interprets the history of Waldensian settlement in the foothills of North Carolina. www.collegiovaldese.org; The Waldensian School in Torre Pellice, including Italian lessons for foreigners . Another inspiring site we visited was the precipice where those faithful to God’s word were thrown to their deaths unless they acknowledged the authority of the “church” as superior to the Bible. Subsequently the Waldensian Evangelical Church, as it became known, developed and spread through the Italian peninsula. 186 (June 2000) Detailed Map of the Waldensian Valleys. Alternative Titles: Valdenses, Valdesi, Vaudois, Waldensian movement Waldenses, also spelled Valdenses, also called Waldensians, French Vaudois, Italian Valdesi, members of a Christian movement that originated in 12th-century France, the devotees of which sought to … A. Wylie’s History of the Waldenses, I had assumed that this sect faithfully adhered to the commandments of God. Education. About one third, 15,000 of the Waldensians still live in these areas, while the other two thirds, about 30,000, have expanded to other areas within Italy and to other countries such as Germany, Argentina and Uruguay. On behalf of the Church, Pope Francis asked Waldensians believers for forgiveness: It took centuries for the papacy to gain the victory, which testifies to the relentless efforts the enemy of souls exerts to lead souls astray. I learned about the history of the Waldensians and saw where it all took place. SURNAMES OF THE WALDENSIAN VALLEYS . Gaze upon the mountainside to the ancient 'seminary' where they translated the first full It was an unforgettable experience. Published London: Religious Tract Society, 1878?. In 1184, the movement was officially excommunicated and the Waldensians were then scattered to various parts of Europe. Will we, individually or as a sect, eventually yield to Satan’s subtle but relentless efforts to dissuade God’s people from the path of truth and righteousness? It is a sad revelation of the current state of a once-faithful people. The meeting included ministers and member commissioners from congregations and 32 ecumenical guests from Europe and from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Leaders and ecumenical representatives spoke Italian, English, French, German and Spanish. In 1848, after many centuries of harsh persecution, the Waldensians acquired legal freedom in the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia as a result of the liberalising reforms which followed Charles Albert of Sardinia's granting a constitution (the Statuto Albertino). Although the original is in Italian, Google will translate it into English. The Diaconal Commission of the Waldensian Church in Italy. Waldensian Valley, Italy College of the Barba , in Pra del Torno, Italy is where the Waldenses were trained in Biblical teachings before being sent out to evangelize Italy and Europe. 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