Interim

The first such project was developed at meetings in Hagenau and Worms in 1540 by the Protestant theologian Bucer, together with the moderate Catholic John Gropper and other theologians. It consisted of 23 articles written (in Latin ) in a very moderate spirit, so that its adoption could prevent a split in the churches. The names of the compilers were kept secret.

Charles V gave it to Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg , Landgrave Philip of Hesse , Elector Johann, Frederick Sankson, as well as Luther and Melanchthon . At the Regensburg Sejm ( 1541 ), a discussion began of this interim by a special committee, which adopted the first five articles, but could not come to any positive decision on questions of hierarchy and sacraments. Accepted articles with a protestant message were handed to the emperor, who brought to the attention of the Sejm about an attempt at reconciliation. The Saeima decided to submit the matter to the future ecumenical or local council, but if it does not meet, to the next Seimas. This Interim, later called Regensburg, even if it caused some distrust of some Protestants, it aroused even more discontent among Catholics. The Pope and many Catholic princes were against the agreement.

After 7 years, when the emperor won a complete victory over the Protestants, an attempt at an agreement was resumed. The new project (26 articles) was compiled by Erasmus' adherent - Julius Pflug, Catholic Michael Helding and the compliant Brandenburg court preacher Johann Agricola , completely in a Catholic spirit; a concession to the Protestants was only three articles that actually recognized the secularization of spiritual possessions (with some exceptions), allowed the marriage of clerics before the decision of the council, and found it possible to receive communion under both forms, but only under the condition that communion under one form should not be condemned. Interim was declared by the Sejm in Augsburg (May 15, 1548 ) before Pope Paul III managed to express his opinion about it.

Dissatisfaction with the interim was widespread, but since some of the imperial princes agreed to accept it ( Palatinate , Württemberg , etc.), it gradually began to be introduced. Several hundred clergymen who rejected him were deprived of their places, expelled, some even killed. A command was issued so that nothing would be written or printed against the interim. Nevertheless, discontent against interim was expressed in a series of sermons, pamphlets, pamphlets and caricatures. Even special, so-called Interim thalers (Interimsthaler) were minted with the image of the interim in the form of a three-headed snake and the inscription: Packe. di. Sathan. du. Interim (“Get Out, Satan You Interim”). Magdeburg was fined for distributing such libels . On the part of Catholics, the pope spoke out primarily against interim. Some Catholic princes were also unhappy.

Due to the unsatisfactory nature of the Augsburg interim, Moritz of Saxony convened a new local commission to reconcile the demands of conscience with the demands of the emperor. The starting point for the members of the commission was concessions in things indifferent (adiaphora). After a preliminary discussion of the case with the Elector of Brandenburg, Moritz presented a new draft agreement to the officials gathered in Leipzig at the end of 1548 , who accepted this third, so-called Leipzig Interim , which was then processed again and accepted in May 1549 by a large number of clergy gathered in Grimm . This Interim, in the drafting of which Melanchthon took a great part, was imbued with a Protestant spirit. It provoked a debate that lasted about 30 years between supporters of the interim, adiaphorists , and opponents of it, of which the main was Flats .

• Lovyagin A.M.Interim // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.