Calvin 500

Calvin 500, the international Quincentenary celebration of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth (July 10, 1509), opened today at St. Pierre Cathedral in the old town of Geneva. Beginning with a welcome by Guillaume Taylor from the St. Pierre Parish Council, approximately 500 worshipers attended the opening convocations, featuring morning worship music from Calvin’s time and a sermon on Philippians 3:8-12 by Sinclair Ferguson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Columbia, South Carolina.

The evening services featured Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, psalm singing, and a sermon by Bryan Chapell, President of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

”Calvin is one of the most important thinkers in history," said Calvin 500 Executive Director David Hall, who also is pastor of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA) located just outside Atlanta in Powder Springs, Georgia. “His ministry and writings left an indelible impression on the modern world, and especially Western culture. It would be hard to find a figure from history more worthy of remembering, if lasting impact for good is the standard.”

Throughout the coming week, scholars and ministers will present lectures and sermons in these historic environs to celebrate the contributions of the magisterial Genevan reformer.