John Hus the progenitor of the Moravians

John Hus at the Council of Constance where he was condemned to death

The Moravian Church was first called The Hussite movement. honoring the name of martyr John Hus who began the movement in early 15th century Bohemia, in what is today the Czech Republic.

John Hus objected to some of the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church of which he was a priest. 

— Specifically, he wanted the liturgy to be celebrated in Czech; 

— He wanted lay people to receive both the consecrated bread and wine;

— He wanted married priests;

— He wanted the eliminating indulgences and the concept of Purgetory.  

Since these actions predate the Protestant Reformation by a century, some historians claim the Moravian Church was the first Protestant church.

The Council of Constance declared him a heretic and had him burned at the stake on 6 July 1415.