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Grote of Lebu茂nuskerk in Deventer, Netherlands

500th Anniversary Reformation Tour 2017鈥揙ur Beginning

June 19, 2017

By Stephen Varvis

We have finished day three of the 榴莲视频直播 鈥500th Anniversary Reformation Tour.鈥

 There are sixteen of us from Fresno, Clovis, Hanford, Reno, Pensacola and New Hampshire鈥攁 great group to travel with鈥攕ome experienced, some for the first time traveling. We are enjoying learning, sitting in street side cafes and exploring the cities. Everyone we have met has been gracious and welcoming. The Dutch are wonderful hosts.

Group photo of travelers smiling

We spent two full days in or near Amsterdam and saw the 鈥淥ude Kirk,鈥 Anne Frank鈥檚 House, took a Canal Tour, as well as the Bedijnof, a hidden Catholic Church, a church and square for medieval lay women dedicated to God and service. 

The next day we visited Haarlem to see St. Bavo鈥檚 Cathedral, where we had a guided tour and heard the organ, as saw also the very large and still active, formerly-hidden Mennonite Church. And we ate in the church鈥檚 Javanese restaurant. Here we are with our Dutch Mennonite guide Ayold Fanoy.

On day three we traveled to Deventer, the home of the medieval reforming movement called the Modern Devotion for a worship service in the Reformed church there鈥攁 beautiful small town on the eastern edge of The Netherlands. And it was a beautiful church with its white walls, and clear glass through which the light of the sun poured during the service. From there it was bus ride across Germany to Berlin where we will tour tomorrow before heading into the cities and towns where Martin Luther taught, wrote and sparked the Reformation.

Photo of Stephen Varvis

Stephen Varvis , Ph.D.

Faculty Emeritus

Steve Varvis (emeritus professor of history) is an avid traveler, and lover of history, literature, church history, architecture and art. He served as an administrator, and taught history, literature and other assorted subjects at 榴莲视频直播 for 40 years. Along with his wife Teri, he plans and leads the 榴莲视频直播 Alumni and Friends Tours. So far the tours have gone to The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Central Europe, Scotland, Ireland, southern France and Italy, Greece and Scandinavia. Their favorite city to spend time in is London. Learn more about 榴莲视频直播 Alumni and Friends Tours.

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