Martin Luther was baptized the day after his birth, November 11, in the Church of St. Peter and Paul (right) in Eisleben. He was named after the day's patron saint, Martin of Tours.

Martin of Tours was born c. 316 AD of pagan parents. Martin came into a world in transition. Christians were no longer persecuted but Christianity was still not accepted by all. His father, a Roman soldier, enlisted him in the army at the age of fifteen. He was stationed in Gaul (modern France).

One winter day Martin saw an ill-clad beggar at a city gate. Overcome with compassion, he took off his mantle, slashed it in two with his sword, handed half to the freezing man and wrapped the remainder on his own shoulders. That night Martin dreamed he saw Jesus wearing the half mantle he had given the beggar.  Martin, who had been wavering in his beliefs, was promptly baptized. At the end of his next military campaign, he asked to be released from the army, saying: "Put me in the front of the army, without weapons or armor; but I will not draw sword again. I am become the soldier of Christ." Charged with cowardice he was imprisoned. His superiors planned to grant his request but the invading Franks and Allemanni sued for peace and Martin was released from military service at Worms, Germany (much later a place of significance in Martin Luther's life).

Martin opposed the Arians, a heretical group that taught that Jesus was a "created being."

In 371 AD Martin was elected bishop of Tours. He was noted for his compassion and mercy. He tore down many non-Christian temples, but always built a Christian church in their place to make a point about true worship and to give people a genuine replacement for their false idols.

Martin Luther was appropriately named!