When I was in Geneva (Switzerland, not Illinois) there was a Mount Rushmore type thing but the carvings were four ministers of Reformation. Anyone know? I think one was either John Knox or John Calvin. Anyone familiar ot know who they are?
sharehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Wall
At the centre of the monument, four 5 metre-tall statues of Calvinism's main proponents are depicted:
William Farel (1489–1565)
John Calvin (1509–1564)
Theodore Beza (1519–1605)
John Knox (c.1513–1572)
To the left (facing the Wall, ordered from left to right) of the central statues are 3 metre-tall statues of:
Frederick William of Brandenburg (1620–1688)
William the Silent (1533–1584)
Gaspard de Coligny (1519–1572)
To the right (ordered from left to right) are 3 metre-tall statues of:
Roger Williams (1603–1684)
Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658)
Stephen Bocskai (1557–1606)
Along the wall, to either side of the central statues, is engraved the motto of both the Reformation and Geneva: Post Tenebras Lux (Latin for After darkness, light). On the central statues' pedestal is engraved a Christogram: ΙΗΣ.
The monument gave inspiration to one of the most important 20th century Hungarian poems, written by Gyula Illyés in 1946 under the title Before the Monument of Reformation in Geneva.[5]
So why no Luther? Was it before his time?
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Because Switzerland was Calvinist, not Lutheran. They're quite different philosophies.
https://www.nwestiowa.com/opinion/wagner-back-story-behind-switzerland-s-famous-reformation-wall/article_af7072be-54f5-11ea-9760-170ab2f661a1.html#:~:text=On%20the%20left%20of%20the,only%20contributed%20to%20the%20reformation.
On the left of the wall is a stone with Martin Luther's name carved in it and to the right of the wall is a stone with Huldrych Zwingli's name. These stones are not a part of the wall because Luther and Zwingli did not begin the Reformed Church, but only contributed to the reformation.