The regional government of Madrid recently committed to institutionally recognise 31 October, Reformation Day, as an event of relevance in the region.

This is why on 2 November, for the first time, an institutional event was held by the regional government of Madrid at the headquarters of the Presidency Office in the centre of the city.

Never before had a Spanish regional government organised its own event to commemorate Reformation Day, making this a historic occasion.

The event was attended by the board of directors of the Evangelical Council of Madrid (CEM), pastors representing the Spanish evangelical leadership in Madrid and important representatives of regional and national politics.

The importance of Protestant Reformation

The Vice-Minister of the Presidency, Miguel Ángel Martín, welcomed the participants, stressing the importance of valuing how important the Protestant Reformation was for society throughout Europe, and for today's society.

The evangelical side was represented by Manuel Cerezo, executive secretary of the CEM, and the theologian and writer José de Segovia.

De Segovia highlighted the dimension of faith, the return to the Bible that had been chained, and the freedoms brought about by the Protestant Reformation, including the first democracies.

Meanwhile, Cerezo gave a brief account of Protestant history in Madrid, the struggles to achieve real religious freedom, and the achievements of the evangelicals in the region, such as the evangelical schools (mainly El Porvenir school) which introduced the most advanced educational principles in Europe, and the social aid for the people of Madrid and immigrants, always present in every evangelical community.

Honouring persecuted Christians

Both recalled that in the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), just a few metres from where the recognition was being held, took place the terrible trials of the Spanish Inquisition, which ended with the brutal deaths as heretics of those who now were being remembered and honoured.

In a way, they said, that dark part of history is being restored by the representatives of the Madrid government.

The ceremony was closed by the regional minister of the Presidency of Madrid, Enrique López, who acknowledged the importance of the evangelical people for Madrid and his willingness to welcome the issues that the CEM presents to them regarding fair and non-discriminatory treatment.

He made an emotional tribute to the often forgotten Christians persecuted around the world for their faith. He concluded by saying that "the government must be non-denominational, but that this does not prevent us from engaging in dialogue, collaboration and cooperation".

At the end of the event, the representatives of the CEM gave a facsimile of the Bear Bible to Enrique López.