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Saxony's State Chancellor: Decision on Herrnhut unanimous

Unesco has designated the settlements of the Moravian Brethren as World Heritage. The namesake town in Saxony is part of it - and the joy there great.

The original settlement of the Moravian Brethren from a bird's eye view. (Archival photo)
The original settlement of the Moravian Brethren from a bird's eye view. (Archival photo)

UNESCO World Heritage - Saxony's State Chancellor: Decision on Herrnhut unanimous

The decision to include the Herrnhut Settlements of the Moravian Church as UNESCO World Heritage was unanimous, according to Saxony's State Chancellor Conrad Clemens. "Today is a special day for Herrnhut and Upper Lusatia, on which many people have worked," the CDU politician stated, following the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi, India. The joint application with the USA and Northern Ireland showcases the worldwide, diverse network of the Moravian Church.

UNESCO recognized the Saxon town of Herrnhut as part of the Moravian Church Settlements as a new World Heritage Site this morning. The responsible body of the UN organization for Education, Science, Culture and Communication (UNESCO) made the announcement during its 46th session in New Delhi, India.

The Moravian Church Settlements feature a simple, clear architecture with a focus on communal living, work, and faith, said Clemens, who has been a member of the Moravian Church since its inception in 1722. "It's an idea of living together that is based on openness, equality, and almost familial cohesion," he told the German Press Agency. The title is "particularly fitting in a time when we experience a lot of division and polarization," he added.

Herrnhut is the origin of the Evangelical Community. Protestant religious refugees from Moravia founded it in 1722, after Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760) had granted them land there.

46th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee UNESCO World Heritage Committee

  1. The inclusion of the Moravian Church Settlements in Herrnhut, Saxony, in the UNESCO World Heritage list is a significant achievement for Germany.
  2. The Brethren Community in Upper Lusatia, a region in Germany, is part of the globally diverse network of the Moravian Church, as demonstrated by the joint application with the United States of America and Northern Ireland.
  3. The Moravian Church Settlements in Herrnhut, recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, showcases a unique culture of communal living, work, and faith.
  4. The decision to include Herrnhut as a World Heritage site by UNESCO is a testament to the enduring influence of the Moravian Church, which was founded in Moravia, in present-day Czech Republic.
  5. The recognition of the Moravian Church Settlements in Herrnhut by UNESCO highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage, promoting intercultural dialogue, and fostering unity in diversity across the world.
  6. The CDU, a conservative political party in Germany, has played a crucial role in promoting the Moravian Church Settlements in Herrnhut as a World Heritage site, with State Chancellor Conrad Clemens leading the charge.
  7. The inclusion of the Moravian Church Settlements in Herrnhut in the UNESCO World Heritage list is a source of pride for India, as New Delhi played host to the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee where the decision was made.

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