Our Congregation in Zagreb is part of Reformed Christian (Calvinist) Church in Croatia. Reformed Chrurch is a historically recognized historic religious community due to its affiliation and contribution to the cultural and religious formation of European identity. It is the oldest religious community of Protestant provenance (Calvinist, Lutheran and Anglican) which has continuity in Croatia since the 16th century.

IDENTITY

Our particuliarity is derived from the 16th century Christian Reformation, i.e. its second wave, which has been called Calvinism. Reformed Christians together with Lutherans and Anglicans (Episcopalians) represent the European Protestant confessions, which  are focused  on the ecumenical efforts, and we follow the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ announced in the Holy Scripture. The Confessional Churches of Reformed tradition and Presbyterian polity have been present in many countries, above all in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, Romania (Trasylvania),the Czech Republic, Slovakia, South Korea, South Africa and in Anglo-Saxon countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the United States. In many European countries the Reformed Churches have united or are in a communion with the Lutheran Churches, like in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, the Scandinavian countries and elsewhere.

BEGINNINGS AND PRESENCE IN CROATIA

The Reformed Church had been organized during the Reformation in Swiss cantons, first of all in Zurich and Geneva, but it represented the contineous efforts of godly believers through the whole history of Christianity, so it is more precise to say that it has its continuity since the beginning of Christian .  The Reformed Church has been present on Croatian areas from the 16th century till today, and first church communities were established around 1540. The biggest concentration today is in Baranja and eastern Slavonia. It is the largest Protestant Church in Croatia. Beside the mentioned areas, through history Calvinism was also present in other parts of Croatian lands, especially in the regions of Međimurje and Varaždin, the central part of Croatia and in other places. For example, the noble family of Zrinski ruled Međimurje, they were partly Protestant and promoters of Calvinist Protestantism, and they permitted establishment of tens of church communities. There were hundreds of church communities in Slavonia predominantly of Croatian and Hungarian ethnic identity.

PROSECUTION AND TOLERANCE

Inglorious destiny of Protestants in Croatian areas was determined by the Counter-Reformation propaganda since the second half of the 16th century. That movement had its epicenter outside our homeland and it didn't permit freedom of conscience and confession, except in the areas of Slavonia under Hungarian administration, because Hungarians practiced greater freedom of conscience and confession. That unnatural and blasphemous situation was confirmed by the law in 1604 by total ban of religious freedom, and enforced assimilation and conversion of Protestants. Onlythe Edict of Tolerance by Joseph II in 1781 guaranties limited freedom of conscience to Protestants, which would later be confirmed throughtout the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy in which the Reformed confession was the second largest, especially in the Hungarian part. The Reformed Church through its history has a multiethnic background in Croatian areas, and thus showing and promoting true mission of the Church.

CHURCH POLITY

Reformed Christian (Calvinist) Church in Croatia is a part of the roof organization of Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational and the United Churches that has its administrative seat in Geneva; the Word Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). Member of WARC can become only those Churches, which, after submitted application, can prove and show that they really hold the true Reformation doctrine; Calvinist teaching, Presbyterian system of Church governance, and that they haven not been established by schism from other Reformed Churches. This Alliance, which has the biggest credibility, unites around 80 million active believers with a soft tendency of growth, the real number is bigger and it is estimated that around 150 million believers cherish this confessional identity. On the national level church communities have been united in the Synod inside Synod-Presbyterian polity under the coordination of Synod council led by a bishop who is elected for a mandate, and the church communities united in that way constitute the Church. The full name of the Church is „Reformed Christian (Calvinist) Church in Croatia.” Active parish communities are called church communities according to place where they are active. It is correct to use the abrevieted  name „Reformed Church.” It is in a spirit of European theological expression, several centuries practice and related to our confession.

DOCTRINE AND SERVICE

Our doctrine is based and derived from the Holy Scriptures. We follow a positive Church tradition from the beginnings. Christian teaching, tradition and Church practice that find their stronghold and basis in Biblical teaching are a part of our  doctrin. We believe that Biblical teaching is the best, the most appropriately expressed through the Creeds of our Church; Apostolic, Nicene-Constantinopolitan, Athanasian, Ephesians and Caledonian one, the teachings of the early Church fathers (among whom we specially emphasise St. Augustine) and through confessions and catechisms of the Reformed Church; the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, Belgic Confession, Westminster Confession, the Augsburg confession of the Lutheran Church etc.

Our Sunday service is theocentric, and the teaching finds its stronghold and development in the Holy Scripture. The center of our teaching and proclamation is the Lord Jesus Christ; Son of God, Savior of the world, incarnated Word of God and our Lord God. His teaching is most exactly and most clearly described in the Gospels, and explained in the New Testament epistles, which are for us the true Word of God like the rest of the Bible (inspired by God and written by holy people under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost). The Lord Jesus Christ has offered the answer to eternal questions and had showed the way how to reach them and how to have a life on earth with purpose, and eternal life after death. By His words and deeds He has showed that we find the answer to eternal questions in faith. The Lord Jesus has revealed the Truth. His deeds have shown the Truth, His death and resurrection lead towards the Truth. Therefore we encourage you to read the gospel teaching and believe in God, live with God through the only mediator between God and men, the Lord Jesus Christ., who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

For more information on the Reformed Christian tradition with authentic and historical heritage in Croatia, contact us.