Aarsen family travel adventures: Switzerland

Switzerland - Day 2, With Van Morrison's "Goin' down Geneva, give me a helping hand,
Goin' down Geneva, give me a helping hand" humming in my mind we headed off to the city of Geneva, the home of the United Nations, World Trade center, drinking fountains at every street corner and of course the stomping ground of one of the Reformation's founding fathers, John Calvin. Geneva was the heart of the reformation during the time of John Calvin and God did so much through the writings and teachings of Calvin to further the cause of the Reformation, so much so even to day his writings and observations continue to have a profound effect on the church world wide.

So as Christians that continue to worship in a church that holds dear the fundamental tenants of the reformation it was a blessing to be able to visit this place and to learn more of what transpired during the reformation and the pivotal figures involved during that time.
We visited the 'International Museum of the Reformation' and were given an informative insight into the reformation and history prior and since. A high light was visiting the church John Calvin preached in 500 years ago and imagining how the true gospel shed light on the lives of many in that day, and also still resounding and relevant today.
We also visited the Reformation Wall monument - an almost 100m wall of statues which has been erected as a memorial (the largest four statues being William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza and John Knox, with supporting characters either side). We were hoping to get some good photos here but the city had decided to erect an outdoor stage right in front of it. We did manage to get a glimpse in behind the stage but only from the sides.

Geneva was an interesting city to walk though, a real melting pot of cultures and races, and to the delight of the children also many electrical modes of transport from segways to hoverboards and electrical scooters that whizzed up and down the streets.

Entrance to the International Museum of the Reformation

Saint Peter's Cathedral where Calvin preached so long ago.

The Pulpit (updated in 1864) in the same spot where Calvin preached from. The Organ was only added recently(1965) as in the services in the early part of the reformation Psalms were sung without musical accompaniment, a practice still adhered to by some church's today.

We were treated to an exhibition about the Gutenberg printing press, complete with a replica press. The press was a vital tool during the reformation allowing the bible to be printed in everyday language.