The antecedents of Pietism in Kronstadt The works of Marcus Fronius

Abstract

Marcus Fronius (1659‒1713) was the first priest of Kronstadt (present-day Braşov, Romania), the economic centre of Transylvanian Saxons, the German-speaking population of which settled in the region in the Middle Ages, and at the same time the dean of the surrounding territory called Burzenland. The present paper focuses on those moments of his career that shed light on his relationship with the Lutheran religious renewal movement of the early eighteenth century, known as Pietism. While he abides by the main principles of Lutheran orthodoxy, he relies on Comenius for his large-scale school reforms and Philipp Jacob Spener for his ecclesiastical innovations. Instead of debates on dogmas, he considers piety, the renewal of the life and inner world of believers to be important. However, unlike many pietists, he rejects asceticism and considers joy and playfulness, including dancing, as appropriate. Historical records also reveal that he came into contact with prominent figures of Pietism.