The Luther rose or Luther seal is a widely recognized symbol for

Lutheranism Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

. It was the

seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, also called "true seal" ** Fur seal ** Eared seal * Seal ( ...

that was designed for

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

at the behest of John Frederick of Saxony in 1530, while Luther was staying at the

Coburg Coburg ( , ) is a Town#Germany, town located on the Itz (river), Itz river in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. Long part of one of the Thuringian states of the Ernestine duchies, Wettin line, it joined Bavaria by popular vote only ...

Fortress during the

Diet of Augsburg The diets of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire held in the German city of Augsburg. Both an Imperial City and the residence of the Augsburg prince-bishops, the town had hosted the Estates in many such se ...

. Lazarus Spengler, to whom Luther wrote his interpretation below, sent Luther a drawing of this seal. Luther saw it as a compendium or expression of his

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and

faith Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions, inc ...

, which he used to authorize his correspondence. Luther informed

Philipp Melanchthon Philip Melanchthon (born Philipp Schwartzerdt; 16 February 1497 – 19 April 1560) was a German Lutheran reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, an intellectual leader of the ...

on 15 September 1530, that the Prince had personally visited him in the

fortress and presented him with a

signet ring A seal is a device for making an impression in Sealing wax, wax, clay, paper, or some other medium, including an Paper embossing, embossment on paper, and is also the impression thus made. The original purpose was to authenticate a document, or ...

, presumably displaying the seal.''LW'' 49, 356-359.

Parts of the seal connected to Luther before 1530

A single rose had been known as Luther’s emblem since 1520, when Wolfgang Stöckel in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

published one of Luther's sermons with a

woodcut Woodcut is a relief printing technique in printmaking. An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood—typically with gouges—leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Areas that ...

of the reformer. This was the first contemporary depiction of Martin Luther. Luther's doctoral ring displayed a heart-like shield, the symbol of the

Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...

Luther's interpretation of his seal

In an 8 July 1530 letter to Lazarus Spengler, Luther interprets his seal:

In Byzantine Rite Lutheranism

Churches of Byzantine Rite Lutheranism, such as the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, use the Luther rose with a three-barred Orthodox cross in the centre.

Use in coats of arms

The Luther rose is used in many coats of arms. The assumption that

had visited any of these places is not confirmed.

German and Austrian arms

Image:Wappen Langenholtensen.png,

Langenholtensen

Image:AUT Kirchberg-Thening COA.svg,

Kirchberg-Thening Kirchberg-Thening is a municipality in the district Linz-Land in the Austrian state of Upper Austria Upper Austria ( ; ; ) is one of the nine States of Austria, states of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech ...

Image:Wappen Rodgau.svg,

Rodgau

Image:DEU Wain COA.svg,

Wain A wagon (or waggon) is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draft animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people. Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...

Image:DEU Neuendettelsau COA.svg,

Neuendettelsau

Image:Wappen at arriach.png,

Golden Luther rose in the coat of arms of Arriach village

Image:AUT Ramsau am Dachstein COA.svg,

Ramsau am Dachstein Ramsau am Dachstein () is a municipality in the district of Liezen, state of Styria, Austria. It is also the name of the elevated plateau between the Dachstein range and the Enns valley on which this municipality is located. The appendage ''am D ...

Image:DEU Greifenstein (Hessen) COA.svg,

Greifenstein Greifenstein is a municipality in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis in Hesse, Germany. Its administrative seat is Beilstein. Greifenstein covers 67.43 km2 on the eastern slope of the Westerwald range. It was named for the Greifenstein Castle (Hesse), ...

Notes

Bibliography

* Luther, Martin. ''D. Martin Luthers Werke, Kritische Gesamtausgabe. Briefwechsel''. 18 vols. Weimar: Verlag Hermann Böhlaus Nachfolger, 1930–85. (abbreviated as ''WABr'' above). * Luther, Martin. ''Luther's Works''. 55 Volumes. Various translators. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1957–1986. CD-ROM edition, 2001. (abbreviated as ''LW'' above).

External links

Lutheran Symbols and Crosses
{{Martin Luther Christian symbols Lutheranism Lutheran art Martin Luther Heraldic charges Seals (insignia) Heart symbols