The Waldenses
THE WALDENSES
About 1160, Peter Waldo, a citizen of Lyons, suddenly changed his lifestyle, giving away large amounts of money, studying God’s Word, and teaching others how to live virtuous lives. In time, people flocked to him, eager to receive the scriptures he translated into French and passed out to those who wanted to learn.
Soon the churchmen in the area, who would not explain the scripture to the people, ordered Waldo to stop his work or face excommunication. Although Waldo ignored their orders, they persecuted his followers so badly that they were all forced to leave the city. The exiled Waldenses dispersed to many places, including Bohemia, Lombardy, and other French provinces. So perfect were they in their knowledge of scripture that unlettered countrymen were able to recite the entire book of Job by heart. Others knew the whole New Testament. One of their fiercest persecutors admitted, “This sect of the Lyonists has a great show of holiness. They live justly before men, believe all good things come from God, and hold all the articles in the creed. Only they blaspheme the Roman Church and hate it.”
Everywhere they lived for the next four hundred years, the Waldenses were subject to terrible persecution, especially in the year 1545. Finally, about 1559, the Waldenses living under the Duke of Savoy in the Piedmont area were given freedom to practice their religion without persecution—after generations of patient suffering.