Philibert Berthelier (Son of Geneva patriot)
Encyclopedia
Philibert Berthelier was a Geneva
citizen who opposed the ecclesiastical rule of John Calvin
.
. As a member of a well-known family and part of the clan of Ami Perrin
, a syndic
or civil magistrate of Geneva, he and his brother François-Daniel became part of a group that opposed the ecclesiastical rule of John Calvin
. The group called themselves, les enfants de Genève (children of Geneva), signifying the patriotic origins of the group.
In February 1552 this group (called the libertines by John Calvin) came to power through the election of Ami Perrin as first syndic. Berthelier became an auditor or an assistant judge. He and two other members of the group tried to cause trouble by insulting a minister Raymond Chauvet as he walked to St. Pierre Cathedral
. The three were arrested and excommunicated. The city council under Perrin’s control absolved them, but the ecclesiastical court, the Consistoire (Consistory
) opposed the council’s decision that they were free to communicate. The three were told by the Consistory to show signs of repentance.
Calvin was determined to assert the authority of the Consistory in ecclesiastical matters. Fearing a potential disturbance, someone warned Berthelier not to appear at church to take communion on 3 September 1553. On that day, Calvin preached a sermon in which he stated that he would not yield to the council’s decision. Surprisingly, the council then reversed itself and a majority voted that excommunication was in the jurisdiction of the Consistory.
On 3 November, Berthelier applied to another Genevan assembly, the Deux Cents, for permission to take communion. The assembly decided that the authorised body to take that decision lay in the council. However, Berthelier was still refused communion by the ministers throughout the spring and summer of 1554. When he applied again for permission in November, the council decided that the Consistory had the final say in the matter.
Following the election of February 1555, the followers of Perrin were ousted. Perrin tried to stir trouble by attempting to set fire to another man’s house. Suspected of subversion, Perrin and Berthelier were forced to flee Geneva. They were tried and condemned to death in absentia.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
citizen who opposed the ecclesiastical rule of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
.
Children of Geneva
Philibert Berthelier was a son of a Geneva patriot who had led Geneva in keeping its independence from Charles III, Duke of SavoyCharles III, Duke of Savoy
Charles III of Savoy , often called Charles the Good, was Duke of Savoy from 1504 to 1553, although most of his lands were ruled by the French between 1536 and his death....
. As a member of a well-known family and part of the clan of Ami Perrin
Ami Perrin
Ami Perrin was a Swiss Libertine and one of the most powerful figures in Geneva in the 16th century as chief opponent of religious reformer John Calvin's rule of the city....
, a syndic
Syndic
Syndic , a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.The meaning which underlies both applications is that of...
or civil magistrate of Geneva, he and his brother François-Daniel became part of a group that opposed the ecclesiastical rule of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
. The group called themselves, les enfants de Genève (children of Geneva), signifying the patriotic origins of the group.
In February 1552 this group (called the libertines by John Calvin) came to power through the election of Ami Perrin as first syndic. Berthelier became an auditor or an assistant judge. He and two other members of the group tried to cause trouble by insulting a minister Raymond Chauvet as he walked to St. Pierre Cathedral
St. Pierre Cathedral
The St. Pierre Cathedral is a cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland, today belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church. It was begun under Arducius de Faucigny, the prince-bishop of the Diocese of Geneva, in the 12th century, and includes an eclectic mix of styles. It is best known as the adopted home church...
. The three were arrested and excommunicated. The city council under Perrin’s control absolved them, but the ecclesiastical court, the Consistoire (Consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
) opposed the council’s decision that they were free to communicate. The three were told by the Consistory to show signs of repentance.
Calvin was determined to assert the authority of the Consistory in ecclesiastical matters. Fearing a potential disturbance, someone warned Berthelier not to appear at church to take communion on 3 September 1553. On that day, Calvin preached a sermon in which he stated that he would not yield to the council’s decision. Surprisingly, the council then reversed itself and a majority voted that excommunication was in the jurisdiction of the Consistory.
On 3 November, Berthelier applied to another Genevan assembly, the Deux Cents, for permission to take communion. The assembly decided that the authorised body to take that decision lay in the council. However, Berthelier was still refused communion by the ministers throughout the spring and summer of 1554. When he applied again for permission in November, the council decided that the Consistory had the final say in the matter.
Following the election of February 1555, the followers of Perrin were ousted. Perrin tried to stir trouble by attempting to set fire to another man’s house. Suspected of subversion, Perrin and Berthelier were forced to flee Geneva. They were tried and condemned to death in absentia.