It was on this day in 1521 that Martin Luther offered the following response to the Archbishop of Trier at the Diet of Worms:
“Unless I am convinced by Scripture or by clear reasoning that I am in error - for popes and councils have often erred and contradicted themselves - I cannot recant, for I am subject to the Scriptures I have quoted; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. It is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against ones conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen.”
After the conclusion of the Diet, Luther was taken into hiding by Prince Frederick and spent an extended period of time at Wartburg Castle, where he began work on his German translation of the Bible.
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