HUS, JOHN

(c 1369-1415), Leader of Roman Catholic church in Bohemia; influenced by Wycliffe; burned as a heretic. He defined the church as Christ-like living not by sacraments. His followers are called Hussites but were also known as Unitas Fratrum or Bohemian Brethren . Five crusades were directed against them; influenced by Waldensians; exist today as the Moravian church. emphasized authority of Scripture over church; demanded partaking of cup by laity; denied transubstantiation, veneration of saints, indulgences, and auricular confession; read Scripture in vernacular (not Latin).