{{Short description|Widely recognized symbol for Lutheranism}} {{Primary sources|article|date=April 2011}} [[File:Lutherrose.svg|thumb|The Luther rose]] The '''Luther rose''' or '''Luther seal''' is a widely recognized symbol for [[Lutheranism]]. It was the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] that was designed for [[Martin Luther]] at the behest of [[John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony|John Frederick of Saxony]] in 1530, while Luther was staying at the [[Coburg]] Fortress during the [[Diet of Augsburg]]. [[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]] and [[faith]], which he used to authorize his correspondence. Luther informed [[Philipp Melanchthon]] on 15 September 1530, that the Prince had personally visited him in the [[Coburg]] fortress and presented him with a [[Seal (emblem)#Signet rings|signet ring]], presumably displaying the seal.<ref name=LW>''LW'' 49, 356-359.</ref>
==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]] published one of Luther's sermons with a [[woodcut]] of the [[Reformation|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]].<ref name=LW/>
==Luther's interpretation of his seal== [[File:Thueringen-Cobstaedt-Kirche-Fenster-2.jpg|thumb|upright|Luther's Seal from a church in Cobstädt, [[Thuringia]], Germany]]
In an 8 July 1530 letter to [[Lazarus Spengler]], Luther interprets his seal:
{{blockquote | Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" ({{bibleverse||Romans|10:10|KJV}}). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural colour. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. "The just shall live by faith" ({{bibleverse||Romans|1:17|KJV}}) but by faith in the crucified. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives ({{bibleverse||John|14:27|KJV}}). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. {{bibleverse||Matthew|28:3|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||John|20:12|KJV}}). Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolising that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this field is a golden ring, symbolising that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my compendium theologiae [summary of theology]. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship, hoping for your appreciation. May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.<ref name=LW/><ref>Translated from ''WA Br'' 5, 445</ref>}}
==In Byzantine Rite Lutheranism== [[File:Ukrlc_logo.svg|thumb|The Luther Rose as used by the [[Ukrainian Lutheran Church]], which is a part of [[Byzantine Rite Lutheranism]].]] Churches of [[Byzantine Rite Lutheranism]], such as the [[Ukrainian Lutheran Church]], use the Luther rose with a three-barred [[Russian Orthodox cross|Orthodox cross]] in the centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/expert_thought/webconf_archive/18805/|title="Українська Лютеранська Церква – Церква, яка бере за основу лише Святе Письмо – Біблію, являється консервативною Церквою у питаннях віросповідання"|date=31 October 2007|publisher=РІСУ - Релігійно-інформаційна служба України|language=uk|access-date=19 September 2018|quote=УЛЦ є правонаступницею довоєнної Української Євангельської Церкви Авгсбурзького віросповідання (УЄЦАВ), що визначала себе як Церква Східного (Візантійського) обряду. Звідси і використання символіки цього обряду і Літургії Івана Золотустого. |first=Serhiy |last=Kudrick|first2=Taras |last2=Kokovsky|first3=Oleg |last3=Stetsyuk}}</ref>
==Use in coats of arms== The Luther rose is used in many coats of arms. The assumption that [[Martin Luther]] had visited any of these places is not confirmed.
===German and Austrian arms=== <gallery> Image:Wappen Langenholtensen.png|<div align="center">[[Langenholtensen]]</div> Image:AUT Kirchberg-Thening COA.svg|<div align="center">[[Kirchberg-Thening]]</div> Image:Wappen Rodgau.svg|<div align="center">[[Rodgau]]</div> Image:DEU Wain COA.svg|<div align="center">[[Wain (Württemberg)|Wain]]</div> Image:DEU Neuendettelsau COA.svg|<div align="center">[[Neuendettelsau]]</div> Image:Wappen at arriach.png|<div align="center">Golden Luther rose in the coat of arms of [[Arriach]] village</div> Image:AUT Ramsau am Dachstein COA.svg|<div align="center">[[Ramsau am Dachstein]]</div> Image:DEU Greifenstein (Hessen) COA.svg|<div align="center">[[Greifenstein]]</div> </gallery>
==Use in United States Department of Veterans Affairs== The Luther Rose is number 51 in the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|USVA]] Emblems of Belief. [[File:USVALutherRose.svg|thumb|[[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] headstone emblem 51]]
== See also == {{Portal|Christianity}}
* {{annotated link|Rose (heraldry)}} * {{annotated link|Rose Cross}} * {{annotated link|Rose symbolism}}
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==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).
==Further reading== *{{cite book |first1=Dietrich |last1=Korsch |year=2004 |chapter=Luther's Seal as an Elementary Interpretation of His Theology |editor1-first=Timothy J. |editor1-last=Wengert |title=Harvesting Martin Luther's reflections on theology, ethics, and the church |publisher=Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids |isbn=978-0-8028-2486-8 |pages=56–77}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160318033820/http://lutheransonline.com/servlet/CpsServlet/dbpage%3Dcge%26gid%3D20052995655655607101111555%26pg%3D20053040942236960101111555 Lutheran Symbols and Crosses]
{{Martin Luther}}
[[Category:Christian symbols]] [[Category:Lutheranism]] [[Category:Lutheran art]] [[Category:Martin Luther]] [[Category:Heraldic charges]] [[Category:Seals (insignia)]] [[Category:Heart symbols]]