Travels in Baptist History 14 The Waldensian Trail of Faith Part 4- The Cave of Sorrows

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· Travels in Baptist History 14 The Waldensian Trail of Faith Part 4- The Cave of SorrowsSometimes we can hear a story yet never quite grasp it till we see the surroundings. I have read the account of the Waldensians being burned out of the Gheisa d’la Tana (Church in the Cave) many times and sorrowed over it but I never quite understood it until now. (As a note- the crosses and round stone were added for Easter as they use this for a resurrection play- they are normally not there) As you enter the cave- it takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust. (The replica is doubtlessly a little better lighted than the original too but was measured and copied from the original cave- the reproduction also has a door for access the real ones entrance was little more than a hole) The video here shows much of the blackness. This cave is where one of the Waldensian congregations met in secret in the Argrogna Valley. The cave provided them seemingly a bit of natural safety. In the front was a rock that provided a bit of a raised platform for the Barbi. Above his head was a natural opening that provided a shaft of light so that he barely could be seen. That opening would however be their undoing.The narration on the audio tour here is probably the most moving of the whole tour. It describes the worship services that occurred here and then tells of the horrible day that they were discovered. It is told from the perspective of a young girl and her mother that were late for church and witnessed the terrible unfolding of a scene of nightmares. While the worshippers went into the cave Roman Catholic soldiers had hidden outside watching their entrance. They also had searched out the natural opening above. They set a bonfire of wet brush above the shaft- some falling in. The dense smoke filled the cave and and the worshipers fled or crawled out of the inky darkness. As they came out in the light, their eyes unable to see, they were, young and old, hacked to death one by one by the swords of the waiting soldiers. Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.