Chapter 4 Citizens in Christ: Moravian Women, Art, and Presence

Moravian communities, such as Christiansfeld in Southern Denmark, embodied the vision of the New Jerusalem through art, writing, and communal practices. The study reveals that Moravians used self-expression—singing, playing music, and engaging with visual art—to symbolically enter Christ's body, both collectively and individually, thereby establishing an ideal Christian community. A 1735 engraving by Christian David illustrates this concept, depicting Herrnhut (the spiritual center), communal worship, and the New Jerusalem in a unified, vertical composition that suggests simultaneous existence. This artistic representation underscores how Moravian settlements functioned as earthly manifestations of the heavenly kingdom, bridging temporal and eternal dimensions through shared devotion.

Jessen, E. E. (2021). Chapter 4 Citizens in Christ: Moravian Women, Art, and Presence. Tracing the Jerusalem Code, 86–108. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110639476-005