Through the marriage of Anne of Bohemia and King Richard II of England, the ideas of John Wycliffe spread to Bohemia in the early 1400s. They strongly influenced Jan Hus, rector of the University of Prague and preacher at Bethlehem Chapel, who criticized corruption and superstition in the church. Many Bohemians began rejecting practices not supported by Scripture.

After initially supporting Hus, Zbyněk Zajíc of Hazmburk turned against him and reported him to Pope Alexander V, who excommunicated Hus. When Alexander died, Pope John XXIII confirmed the decision and in 1411 placed Prague under an interdict, forbidding the sacraments.

Hus continued opposing church abuses, especially the sale of indulgences, which caused riots in Prague. Forced into exile, he wrote books emphasizing Scripture as the highest authority and condemning practices such as indulgences, corrupt clergy, image worship, purgatory, and confession to priests. He also urged that believers receive both bread and wine in the Eucharist.

Expecting martyrdom, Hus wrote that “truth conquers all things,” later expressed in the Czech motto “Veritas omnia vincit” (“Truth prevails”).

Also on this Day

1930 – Soviets execute the Orthodox priest Basil Alexeyevich Tukmachev by shooting him, and exile his family. He had led active and passive resistance against the Communist regime.

1950 – American missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: ‘The believer is a displaced person. He loses the controlling features of both environment and heredity.’

1998 – Church of the Nazarene evangelist Matthew Sabwela holds a service in Malawi at which 2,400 people surrender their lives to Christ.