Herrnhut

Herrnhut, town, Saxony, SE Germany. It was founded (1722) by Graf von Zinzendorf as a colony of Moravian Brethren (see Moravian Church), and is today a Moravian center with archives, a publishing house, and a museum.

Herrnhut (Sorbian: Ochranow; Czech: Ochranov) is a municipality in the district of Görlitz, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.

It has access to Bundesstraße 178 between Löbau and Zittau. Its bordering municipalities are Berthelsdorf, Großhennersdorf and Strahwalde.

Coat of arms

Its colors are blue and white, showing the tower of the "Altan" (the lookout tower) atop the Hutberg hill above the city, built originally by Nicolaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf for his wife Erdmuth Dorothea, born Countess von Reuss Ebersdorf. The name of the hill (Hill of Watching) suggested the name of the Moravian settlement founded by these exiles on the Zinzendorf estate in 1722. Herrn Hut means The Lord's Watch; the inhabitants were to be on watch for the Lord, as they were also under the Lord's watchful care. The Sorbian name for Herrnhut Ochranow also means watching. The Moravian graveyard, or God's Acre, is on the western slope of the Hutberg.

Culture

Herrnhut has a church and two museums, including a museum of local history. It is the center of the worldwide Moravian Church, the Unitas Fratrum, in German Brüder-Unität or Brüdergemeine.

Economy

Its economy is based on church administration, education, tourism and manufacturing, including a 26-pointed star that is often hung in windows and on porches during the Christmas season, which has been produced for over 150 years. It is called the Moravian Advent Star (Herrnhuter Advents Stern).

External links

• Herrnhuter Sterne
• Evangelische Brüder Unität