Church of Sweden
Encyclopedia
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church
in Sweden
. The church professes the Lutheran
faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion
. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany
(24.5 million). Until 2000 it held the position of state church
. Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.
The Church of Sweden, by law, is organized in the following manner:
The Primate
of the Church of Sweden is the Archbishop of Uppsala
, currently Anders Wejryd
.
instigated the Church of Sweden in 1526 during his reign as King of Sweden. This act separated the church from the Roman Catholic Church
and its canon law
. In 1572, the Swedish Church Ordinance
became the first Swedish church order following the Reformation
.
The Church of Sweden became Lutheran
at the Uppsala Synod
in 1593 when it adopted the Augsburg Confession
to which most Lutherans adhere. At this synod, it was decided that the church would retain the three original Christian creed
s: the Apostles'
, the Athanasian
, and the Nicene
.
In 1686, the Parliament of Sweden
adopted the Book of Concord
, although only certain parts labeled Confessio fidei were considered binding, and the other texts merely explanatory. Confessio dei included the three aforementioned Creeds, the Augsburg Confession and two Uppsala Synod decisions from 1572 and 1593.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, a variety of teachings were officially approved, mostly directed towards ecumenism
:
In practice, however, the Lutheran creed texts play a minor role, and instead the parishes rely on Lutheran tradition in coexistence with influences from other Christian denominations and diverse ecclesial movements such as Low Church
, High Church
, Pietism
("Old Church") and Laestadianism
, who locally might be strongly established, but who have little nation-wide influence.
During the 20th century the Church of Sweden oriented itself strongly towards liberal Christianity
and human rights
. 1957 the church assembly rejected a proposal for ordination of women, but then the parliament changed the law in spring 1958 and forced the church assembly to accept the new law in autumn 1958. Since 1960, women have been ordained as priests
, and since 1994, men who oppose collaboration with women priests have not been allowed ordination
. A proposal to perform same-sex weddings
was approved on October 22, 2009 by a majority of 176 of 249 voting members.
, not Christianized
until around AD 1000, around the same time as the other Nordic countries
, when the Swedish King Olof was baptized. However, Norse paganism
and other pre-Christian religious systems survived in the territory of what is now Sweden later than that; for instance the important religious center known as the Temple at Uppsala
at Gamla Uppsala
was evidently still in use in the late 11th century, while there was little effort to introduce the Sami
of Lapland to Christianity until considerably after that.
The Christian church in Scandinavia was originally governed by the archdiocese of Bremen. In 1104 an archbishop for all Scandinavia was installed in Lund
. Uppsala was made Sweden's archdiocese
in 1164, and remains so today. The papal diplomat William of Modena
attended a church meeting in Skänninge
in March 1248, where the ties to the Catholic Church were strengthened.
The most cherished national Catholic saint
s were the 12th-century King Eric the Saint
and the 14th-century visionary
Bridget
, but other regional heroes also had a local cult following, including Saint Botvid
and Saint Eskil
in Södermanland
, Saint Helena of Skövde
and Saint Sigfrid
in Småland
. In their names, miracle
s were performed and churches were named.
in Rome with a request for the confirmation of Johannes Magnus
as Archbishop of Sweden, in the place of Gustav Trolle
who had been formally deposed and exiled by the Riksdag of the Estates
.
Gustav promised to be an obedient son of the Church, if the pope would confirm the elections of his bishops. But the pope requested Trolle to be re-instated. King Gustav protested by promoting the Swedish reformers, the brothers Olaus
and Laurentius Petri
, and Laurentius Andreae
. The king supported the printing of reformation texts, with the Petri brothers as the major instructors on the texts. In 1526 all Catholic printing-presses were suppressed, and two-thirds of the Church's tithes were appropriated for the payment of the national debt. As Gustav Vasa triumphs 3 was formulated, a final breach was made with the traditions of the old religion.
Other changes of the reformation included the abolition of some Catholic rituals. However, the changes were not as drastic as in Germany
; in many Swedish churches there still today remain artifacts from Catholic times, such as crosses
, crucifix
es and icon
s. And many holy days, based on saints days, were not removed from the calendar until the late 18th century due to strong resistance from the population.
After the death of Gustav Vasa, Sweden was ruled by a king with Catholicizing tendencies, John III
, and another openly Catholic one, John's son Sigismund
, who was also ruler of Catholic Poland
but eventually deposed from the Swedish throne by his uncle. The latter, who acceded to the throne as Charles IX
used the Lutheran church as an instrument in his power struggle against his nephew, but is known to have had Calvinist
leanings.
The New Testament was translated to Swedish in 1526 and the entire Bible in 1541. Revised translations were published in 1618 and 1703. New official translations were adopted in 1917 and 2000. Many hymns were written by Swedish church reformers and several by Martin Luther
were translated. A semi-official hymnal appeared in the 1640s. Official hymnals of the Church of Sweden were adopted in 1695, 1819, 1937 and 1986. The latter one is ecumenical
and combines traditional hymns with songs from other Christian denominations, including Seventh-day Adventist
, Baptist, Catholic, Mission Covenant
, Methodist, Pentecostalist, and the Salvation Army.
. It is blazoned Or, on a cross Gules an open crown of the field and thus features a yellow field with a red cross on which there is an open red crown. The crown is called the victory crown of Christ
, based on the medieval tradition.
). To vote in the Church general elections, one must be member of the Church of Sweden, at minimum 16 years of age, and nationally registered as living in Sweden
.
The groups that take part in the elections are called nominating groups
. In some cases the nationwide political parties
take part in the elections, such as the Social Democrats
, the Moderates
and the Centre Party
. After the formal separation of Church of Sweden from the State of Sweden
, the growing tendency in the elections is towards independent parties forming for candidature, either based on a political conviction, for example Folkpartister i Svenska kyrkan
founded by Liberal People's Party
members, or a pure church party such as the political independents' Partipolitiskt obundna i Svenska kyrkan
(POSK) and Frimodig kyrka
.
s . A diocese is divided into "contracts" , which are then divided into parish
es . One or several parishes may together form a larger parish .
The dioceses of Uppsala, Strängnäs, Västerås, Skara, Linköping, Växjö and the now Finnish diocese of Turku
, are the original seven Swedish dioceses, dating from the Middle Ages. The rest have come into existence after that time and the Swedish reformation in the 16th century.
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The church professes the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion
Porvoo Communion
The Porvoo Communion is a communion of 12 mainly northern European Anglican and Lutheran churches. It was established in 1992 by an agreement entitled the Porvoo Common Statement which establishes full communion between and among the churches...
. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
(24.5 million). Until 2000 it held the position of state church
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
. Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.
The Church of Sweden, by law, is organized in the following manner:
- It is an Evangelical Lutheran community of faith manifested in parishParishA parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es and dioceseDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s. The church also has a national organisation. - It is an open national church which, working with a democraticDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
organisation and through the ministry of the church, covers the whole nation.
The Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Church of Sweden is the Archbishop of Uppsala
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
, currently Anders Wejryd
Anders Wejryd
Anders Harald Wejryd is a Swedish Lutheran clergyman. Having been Bishop of Växjö since 1995, he was elected Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden in March 2006 and took office in September of the same year....
.
Theology
King Gustav I VasaGustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
instigated the Church of Sweden in 1526 during his reign as King of Sweden. This act separated the church from the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and its canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. In 1572, the Swedish Church Ordinance
Swedish Church Ordinance 1571
The Swedish Church Ordinance of 1571 was the first complete Swedish church order following the Swedish Reformation in the 1520s.The main originator of the ordinance was archbishop Laurentius Petri. Petri had been archbishop since 1531, and had published many doctrinal texts. He had in vain tried to...
became the first Swedish church order following the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
.
The Church of Sweden became Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
at the Uppsala Synod
Uppsala Synod
The Uppsala Synod in 1593 was the most important synod of the Lutheran Church of Sweden. Sweden had gone through its Protestant Reformation and broken with Roman Catholicism in the 1520s, but an official confession of faith had never been declared....
in 1593 when it adopted the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation...
to which most Lutherans adhere. At this synod, it was decided that the church would retain the three original Christian creed
Creed
A creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
s: the Apostles'
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed , sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol"...
, the Athanasian
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief, focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. The Latin name of the creed, Quicumque vult, is taken from the opening words, "Whosoever wishes." The Athanasian Creed has been used by Christian churches since the sixth century...
, and the Nicene
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
.
In 1686, the Parliament of Sweden
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
adopted the Book of Concord
Book of Concord
The Book of Concord or Concordia is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since the 16th century...
, although only certain parts labeled Confessio fidei were considered binding, and the other texts merely explanatory. Confessio dei included the three aforementioned Creeds, the Augsburg Confession and two Uppsala Synod decisions from 1572 and 1593.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, a variety of teachings were officially approved, mostly directed towards ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
:
- 1878 development of the CatechismLuther's Large CatechismLuther's Large Catechism consisted of works written by Martin Luther and compiled Christian canonical texts, published in April of 1529. This book was addressed particularly to clergymen to aid them in teaching their congregations...
, - the Uppsala creed of 1909, preparing for the Eucharist communion with Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, - the constitutions of World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of ChurchesThe World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
(WCC), - the constitutions of Lutheran World FederationLutheran World FederationThe Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
(LWF), - Church of Sweden's official answer to the "Lima document"Baptism, Eucharist and MinistryBaptism, Eucharist and Ministry, also known as the Lima Document, is an important Christian ecumenical document published by members of the World Council of Churches in Lima in 1982. -Ecclesiology of communion:...
, - a Council of the Bishops Letter in Important Theological Questions,
- the treaty of 1995 of communion with Philippine Independent ChurchPhilippine Independent ChurchThe Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, (officially the or the IFI, also known as the Philippine Independent Catholic Church or in Ilocano: Siwawayawaya nga Simbaan ti Filipinas (in in Kinaray-a/Hiligaynon: Simbahan Hilway nga...
.
In practice, however, the Lutheran creed texts play a minor role, and instead the parishes rely on Lutheran tradition in coexistence with influences from other Christian denominations and diverse ecclesial movements such as Low Church
Low church
Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative. During the series of doctrinal and ecclesiastic challenges to the established church in the 16th and 17th centuries, commentators and others began to refer to those groups...
, High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
, Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
("Old Church") and Laestadianism
Laestadianism
Laestadianism is a conservative Lutheran revival movement started in the middle of the 19th century. It is strongly marked by both pietistic and Moravian influences. It is the biggest revivalist movement in the Nordic countries. It has members mainly in Finland, North America, Norway, Russia and...
, who locally might be strongly established, but who have little nation-wide influence.
During the 20th century the Church of Sweden oriented itself strongly towards liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. 1957 the church assembly rejected a proposal for ordination of women, but then the parliament changed the law in spring 1958 and forced the church assembly to accept the new law in autumn 1958. Since 1960, women have been ordained as priests
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, and since 1994, men who oppose collaboration with women priests have not been allowed ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
. A proposal to perform same-sex weddings
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
was approved on October 22, 2009 by a majority of 176 of 249 voting members.
History
| year | population | church members | percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 8,146,000 | 7,754,784 | 95.2 % |
| 1975 | 8,208,000 | 7,770,881 | 94.7 % |
| 1980 | 8,278,000 | 7,690,636 | 92.9 % |
| 1985 | 8,358,000 | 7,629,763 | 91.5 % |
| 1990 | 8,573,000 | 7,630,350 | 89.0 % |
| 1995 | 8,837,000 | 7,601,194 | 86.0 % |
| 2000 | 8,880,000 | 7,360,825 | 82.9 % |
| 2005 | 9,048,000 | 6,967,498 | 77.0 % |
| 2010 | 9,415,570 | 6,589,769 | 70.0 % |
Middle Ages
While some Swedish areas had Christian minorities in the 9th century, Sweden was, because of its geographical location in northernmost EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, not Christianized
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
until around AD 1000, around the same time as the other Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, when the Swedish King Olof was baptized. However, Norse paganism
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
and other pre-Christian religious systems survived in the territory of what is now Sweden later than that; for instance the important religious center known as the Temple at Uppsala
Temple at Uppsala
The Temple at Uppsala was a religious center in Norse paganism once located at what is now Gamla Uppsala , Sweden attested in Adam of Bremen's 11th century work Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum and in Heimskringla, written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century...
at Gamla Uppsala
Gamla Uppsala
Gamla Uppsala is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. It had 16,231 inhabitants in 1991.As early as the 3rd century AD and the 4th century AD and onwards, it was an important religious, economic and political centre...
was evidently still in use in the late 11th century, while there was little effort to introduce the Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
of Lapland to Christianity until considerably after that.
The Christian church in Scandinavia was originally governed by the archdiocese of Bremen. In 1104 an archbishop for all Scandinavia was installed in Lund
Diocese of Lund
-External links:* from Nordisk Familjebok, in Swedish...
. Uppsala was made Sweden's archdiocese
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
in 1164, and remains so today. The papal diplomat William of Modena
William of Modena
William of Modena , also known as William of Sabina, Guglielmo de Chartreaux, Guglielmo de Savoy, Guillelmus, was an Italian clergyman and papal diplomat. He was frequently appointed a legate, or papal ambassador by the popes Honorius III and Gregory IX, especially in Livonia in the 1220s and in...
attended a church meeting in Skänninge
Skänninge
Skänninge is a locality situated in Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 3,242 inhabitants in 2005. It lies about 10 km north of the municipal seat Mjölby....
in March 1248, where the ties to the Catholic Church were strengthened.
The most cherished national Catholic saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s were the 12th-century King Eric the Saint
Eric IX of Sweden
Eric "IX" of Sweden, , also called Eric the Lawgiver, Erik the Saint, Eric the Holy and in Sweden Sankt Erik meaning Saint Eric was a Swedish king c.1155 – 1160...
and the 14th-century visionary
Visionary
Defined broadly, a visionary, is one who can envision the future. For some groups this can involve the supernatural or drugs.The visionary state is achieved via meditation, drugs, lucid dreams, daydreams, or art. One example is Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century artist/visionary and Catholic saint...
Bridget
Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden (1303 – 23 July 1373; also Birgitta of Vadstena, Saint Birgitta , was a mystic and saint, and founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks after the death of her husband of twenty years...
, but other regional heroes also had a local cult following, including Saint Botvid
Saint Botvid
-Biography:Botvid, who was born in Södermanland, Sweden, went on a trade trip to England and where he came into contact with Christianity and was converted to the Christian faith. Botvid was sent back as a missionary to Sweden by Saint Sigfrid of Växjö along with Saint David and Saint Eskil. The...
and Saint Eskil
Saint Eskil
Saint Eskil was an Anglo-Saxon monk particularly venerated during the end of the 11th century in the Province of Södermanland, Sweden. He was the founder of the first Diocese of the lands surrounding Lake Mälaren, today the Diocese of Strängnäs...
in Södermanland
Södermanland
', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...
, Saint Helena of Skövde
Helena of Skövde
Saint Helena was a woman of high birth, who lived in the 12th century, and was considered to be the patron saint of Skövde, Sweden. Saint Helena decorates the Skövde city arm and is the patron saint of the church in Ränneslöv.She was born around 1101...
and Saint Sigfrid
Sigfrid of Sweden
Saint Sigfrid was a Benedictine monk and bishop in Sweden; he converted king Olof Skötkonung in 1008...
in Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
. In their names, miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s were performed and churches were named.
Reformation
Shortly after seizing power in 1523, Gustav Vasa addressed the PopePope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
in Rome with a request for the confirmation of Johannes Magnus
Johannes Magnus
Johannes Magnus was the last functioning Catholic Archbishop in Sweden, and also a theologian, genealogist, and historian.-Life:Johannes Magnus was born in Linköping, son of the burgess Måns Pedersson and his wife Kristina...
as Archbishop of Sweden, in the place of Gustav Trolle
Gustav Trolle
Gustav Eriksson Trolle was Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, in two sessions, during the turbulent Reformation events.After returning from studies abroad, in Cologne and Rome, he was in 1513 elected vicar in Linköping. One year later he became Archbishop of Uppsala...
who had been formally deposed and exiled by the Riksdag of the Estates
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
.
Gustav promised to be an obedient son of the Church, if the pope would confirm the elections of his bishops. But the pope requested Trolle to be re-instated. King Gustav protested by promoting the Swedish reformers, the brothers Olaus
Olaus Petri
Olof Persson , better known under the Latin form of his name, Olaus Petri , was a clergyman, writer, and a major contributor to the Protestant Reformation in Sweden...
and Laurentius Petri
Laurentius Petri
Laurentius Petri Nericius was a Swedish clergyman and the first Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop of Sweden. He and his brother Olaus Petri are, together with the King Gustav Vasa, regarded as the main Protestant reformers of Sweden...
, and Laurentius Andreae
Laurentius Andreae
Laurentius Andreae was a Swedish clergyman and scholar who is acknowledged as one of his country's preeminent intellectual figures during the first half of the 16th century...
. The king supported the printing of reformation texts, with the Petri brothers as the major instructors on the texts. In 1526 all Catholic printing-presses were suppressed, and two-thirds of the Church's tithes were appropriated for the payment of the national debt. As Gustav Vasa triumphs 3 was formulated, a final breach was made with the traditions of the old religion.
Other changes of the reformation included the abolition of some Catholic rituals. However, the changes were not as drastic as in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; in many Swedish churches there still today remain artifacts from Catholic times, such as crosses
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
es and icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s. And many holy days, based on saints days, were not removed from the calendar until the late 18th century due to strong resistance from the population.
After the death of Gustav Vasa, Sweden was ruled by a king with Catholicizing tendencies, John III
John III of Sweden
-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
, and another openly Catholic one, John's son Sigismund
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
, who was also ruler of Catholic Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
but eventually deposed from the Swedish throne by his uncle. The latter, who acceded to the throne as Charles IX
Charles IX of Sweden
Charles IX of Sweden also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland...
used the Lutheran church as an instrument in his power struggle against his nephew, but is known to have had Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
leanings.
The New Testament was translated to Swedish in 1526 and the entire Bible in 1541. Revised translations were published in 1618 and 1703. New official translations were adopted in 1917 and 2000. Many hymns were written by Swedish church reformers and several by Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
were translated. A semi-official hymnal appeared in the 1640s. Official hymnals of the Church of Sweden were adopted in 1695, 1819, 1937 and 1986. The latter one is ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and combines traditional hymns with songs from other Christian denominations, including Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Baptist, Catholic, Mission Covenant
Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
The Mission Covenant Church of Sweden , founded in 1878, is a Swedish Reformed free church. It is the second-largest Christian denomination in the country, after the national church, the Church of Sweden...
, Methodist, Pentecostalist, and the Salvation Army.
Lutheran Orthodoxy
The 19th century back to one found in Uppsala CathedralUppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral is a cathedral located centrally in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. It dates back to the late 13th century and at a height of 118.7 m is the tallest church building in Scandinavia. Originally built under Roman Catholicism and used for coronations of the Swedish monarch, since the...
. It is blazoned Or, on a cross Gules an open crown of the field and thus features a yellow field with a red cross on which there is an open red crown. The crown is called the victory crown of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, based on the medieval tradition.
Church politics
The Church adopted, at the time that it was still a state church, an administrative structure largely modelled after the state. Direct elections are held to the General Synod , and the diocesan and parish assemblies (and in some cases, confederation of parishes assemblies and directly elected parish councils). The electoral system is the same as used in the Swedish parliamentary or municipal elections (see Elections in SwedenElections in Sweden
Elections in the Kingdom of Sweden are held every four years, and determine the makeup of the legislative bodies on the three levels of administrative division in the country. At the highest level, these elections determine the allocation of seats in the Riksdag, the national legislative body of...
). To vote in the Church general elections, one must be member of the Church of Sweden, at minimum 16 years of age, and nationally registered as living in Sweden
Population registration in Sweden
Population registration in Sweden is the civil registration of vital events of the inhabitants of Sweden. The data is kept in the population registry and is administered by the Swedish Tax Agency...
.
The groups that take part in the elections are called nominating groups
Nominating groups
Nominating groups is the name given to political parties and other outfits that take part in the elections to the various governing bodies of the Church of Sweden....
. In some cases the nationwide political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
take part in the elections, such as the Social Democrats
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
, the Moderates
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
and the Centre Party
Centre Party (Sweden)
The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Sweden. The party maintains close ties to rural Sweden and describes itself as "a green social liberal party". The ideology is sometimes called agrarian, but in a European context, the Centre Party can perhaps best be characterized as social...
. After the formal separation of Church of Sweden from the State of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the growing tendency in the elections is towards independent parties forming for candidature, either based on a political conviction, for example Folkpartister i Svenska kyrkan
Folkpartister i Svenska kyrkan
Folkpartister i Svenska kyrkan is a nominating group of members of Liberal People's Party and other liberals that work within the Church of Sweden...
founded by Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
members, or a pure church party such as the political independents' Partipolitiskt obundna i Svenska kyrkan
Partipolitiskt obundna i Svenska kyrkan
Partipolitiskt obundna i Svenska kyrkan is a nominating group working with the Church of Sweden. POSK was founded in 1987 as a platform for independents to contest Church elections. POSK is by far the largest non-party nominating group...
(POSK) and Frimodig kyrka
Frimodig kyrka
Frimodig kyrka is a nominating group for the church elections in Church of Sweden founded 2005 after a split from POSK.Frimodig kyrka wants to change the election system to a non political system without any political parties participating. The group does not accept gay marriage and promotes...
.
Administrative divisions
The Church of Sweden is divided into thirteen dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s . A diocese is divided into "contracts" , which are then divided into parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es . One or several parishes may together form a larger parish .
Dioceses, with seats, cathedrals and bishops
| Diocese | Seat | Cathedral | Bishops | Current bishop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Uppsala Archdiocese of Uppsala The Archdiocese of Uppsala, Lutheran 'successor' to the former Roman Catholic Swedish province, is one of the thirteen dioceses of the Church of Sweden and the only one having the status of an archdiocese.-Lutheran archdiocese:... |
Uppsala Uppsala - Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med... |
Uppsala Cathedral Uppsala Cathedral Uppsala Cathedral is a cathedral located centrally in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. It dates back to the late 13th century and at a height of 118.7 m is the tallest church building in Scandinavia. Originally built under Roman Catholicism and used for coronations of the Swedish monarch, since the... |
List of Archbishops of Uppsala | Anders Wejryd Anders Wejryd Anders Harald Wejryd is a Swedish Lutheran clergyman. Having been Bishop of Växjö since 1995, he was elected Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden in March 2006 and took office in September of the same year.... (Archbishop of Uppsala Archbishop of Uppsala The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :... ) Ragnar Persenius (bishop) |
| Diocese of Linköping | Linköping Linköping Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County... |
Linköping Cathedral Linköping Cathedral The Linköping Cathedral is a church in the Swedish city of Linköping. The cathedral is the seat for the bishop in the Church of Sweden Diocese of Linköping. It is situated opposite Linköping Castle.-History:... |
List of bishops of Linköping | Martin Modéus |
| Diocese of Skara Diocese of Skara The Diocese of Skara is a diocese of the Church of Sweden , with its seat at Skara in Västergötland... |
Skara Skara Skara is a locality and the seat of Skara Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan , is situated in Skara... |
Skara Cathedral Skara Cathedral Skara Cathedral is a church in the Swedish city of Skara. The cathedral is the seat for the bishop of the Church of Sweden Diocese of Skara.... |
List of bishops of Skara | Erik Aurelius |
| Diocese of Strängnäs Diocese of Strängnäs The Diocese of Strängnäs is a part of the Church of Sweden and has its seat in Strängnäs Cathedral in Strängnäs, south of Lake Mälaren. The diocese is made up of the two provinces Närke and Södermanland .The diocese was first a suffragan of the Diocese of Lund, which in 1104 was elevated to... |
Strängnäs Strängnäs Strängnäs is a locality and the seat of Strängnäs Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 12,296 inhabitants in 2005. It is located by Lake Mälaren and is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Strängnäs, a former Roman Catholic and present Lutheran Diocese, with the Strängnäs Cathedral, built... |
Strängnäs Cathedral Strängnäs Cathedral Strängnäs Cathedral is a cathedral church in Strängnäs, Sweden, since the Protestant Reformation the seat of the Lutheran Diocese of Strängnäs.It is built mainly of bricks in the characteristic Scandinavian Brick Gothic style... |
List of bishops of Strängnäs | Hans-Erik Nordin |
| Diocese of Västerås Diocese of Västerås Attribution The entry cites:**Historiskt-geographiskt och statistiskt Lexikon ofver Sverige, VII , 316-18;**FANT, Scriptores rerum Svecicarum ;... |
Västerås Västerås Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm... |
Västerås Cathedral | List of bishops of Västeråsedsert | Thomas Söderberg |
| Diocese of Växjö | Växjö Växjö Växjö is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 64 200 inhabitants in 2010. It is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö. It has a population of about 64 200, out of a... |
Växjö Cathedral Växjö Cathedral Växjö Cathedral in the centre of Växjö, Sweden, is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Växjö in the Church of Sweden.... |
List of bishops of Växjö | Jan-Olof Johansson |
| Diocese of Kalmar Diocese of Kalmar The Diocese of Kalmar was a division of the Church of Sweden between 1603 and 1915, when it was merged into the diocese of Växjö in order to allow the new diocese of Luleå to be formed. It was created as a subdivision to the diocese of Linköping, and was under the supervision of a superintendent... |
Kalmar Kalmar Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 62,767 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants .From the thirteenth to the... |
Kalmar Cathedral Kalmar Cathedral Kalmar Cathedral is in the city of Kalmar in Småland in south east Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea.The new city of Kalmar built on Kvarnholmen around the mid-1700s. The transfer from the old town was largely completed 1658th The new, fortified town was planned after the current renaissance ideals... |
List of bishops of Kalmar | Existed as superintendentia Superintendent (ecclesiastical) Superintendent is the head of an administrative division of a Protestant church, largely historical but still in use in Germany.- Superintendents in Sweden :... 1603–1678 and as diocese 1678–1915; merged with the Diocese of Växjö |
| Diocese of Lund Diocese of Lund -External links:* from Nordisk Familjebok, in Swedish... |
Lund Lund -Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund... |
Lund Cathedral Lund Cathedral The Lund Cathedral is the Lutheran cathedral in Lund, Scania, Sweden. It is the seat of the bishop of Lund of the Church of Sweden.- History :... |
List of bishops of Lund | Antje Jackelén Antje Jackelén Antje Jackelén, born June 4, 1955 in Herdecke, Germany, is the Bishop of Lund in Sweden. She was ordained a priest in the Church of Sweden in 1980 and became a doctor of Theology at Lund University in 1999.... |
| Diocese of Gothenburg | Gothenburg Gothenburg Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area... |
Gothenburg Cathedral Gothenburg Cathedral The Gothenburg Cathedral is a cathedral in Gothenburg, Sweden. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop in the Church of Sweden diocese of Gothenburg.- The original church :... |
List of bishops of Gothenburg | Carl Axel Aurelius |
| Diocese of Mariestad Diocese of Mariestad The Diocese of Mariestad was a division of the Church of Sweden between 1583-1646. The diocese was never an episcopal see, as it was under the supervision of a superintendent rather than a bishop. Mariestad cathedral is thus the only church building in Sweden to have gained the rank of cathedral... |
Mariestad Mariestad Mariestad is a locality and the seat of Mariestad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 15,448 inhabitants in 2005. It was until 1997 the capital of the former Skaraborg County and an episcopal see in the Church of Sweden between 1583 and 1646.... |
Mariestad Cathedral Mariestad Cathedral Mariestad Cathedral is a cathedral in Mariestad, Sweden.... |
List of superintendents of Mariestad | Existed as superintendentia 1580–1646; replaced by Karlstad |
| Diocese of Karlstad Diocese of Karlstad -External links:*... |
Karlstad Karlstad Karlstad is a city, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city had 61,685 inhabitants in 2010 out of a municipal total that during the first quarter 2010 was 84,885 inhabitants... |
Karlstad Cathedral Karlstad Cathedral Karlstad Cathedral is a cathedral in Karlstad, Sweden.... |
List of bishops of Karlstad | Esbjörn Hagberg |
| Diocese of Härnösand | Härnösand Härnösand Härnösand is a locality and the seat of Härnösand Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 18,003 inhabitants in 2005. It is called "the gate to the High Coast" because of the world heritage landscape rises just some miles north of Härnösand... |
Härnösand Cathedral Härnösand Cathedral Härnösand Cathedral serves the Diocese of Härnösand and was built in 1846.-History:Härnösand city's first church was built 1593. In 1721 the church was burned down by Russian troops, and a new church was erected, and that church was eventually destroyed. The present church was completed in 1846... |
List of bishops of Härnösand | Tuulikki Koivunen Bylund |
| Diocese of Luleå | Luleå Luleå - Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden.... |
Luleå Cathedral Luleå Cathedral -External links:* * *... |
List of bishops of Luleå | Hans Stiglund |
| Diocese of Visby | Visby Visby -See also:* Battle of Visby* Gotland University College* List of governors of Gotland County-External links:* - Visby*... |
Visby Cathedral Visby Cathedral Visby Cathedral is a cathedral in Visby, Sweden, which serves the Diocese of Visby.... |
List of bishops of Visby | Sven-Bernhard Fast |
| Diocese of Stockholm | Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area... |
Stockholm Cathedral | List of bishops of Stockholm | Eva Brunne Eva Brunne Gerd Eva Cecilia Brunne is Swedish and a bishop in the Church of Sweden.Brunne has served as a priest from 1978, during which time she has had several positions in the church, including pastor of the parishes of Sundbyberg and Flemingsberg.In May 2009 she was elected as bishop in the Diocese of... |
The dioceses of Uppsala, Strängnäs, Västerås, Skara, Linköping, Växjö and the now Finnish diocese of Turku
Archdiocese of Turku
The Archdiocese of Turku, or the Archdiocese of Åbo is the seat of the Archbishop of Turku. It is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The Archbishop has many administrative tasks relating to the National church, but he does not act as a supervisor for the other bishops, having...
, are the original seven Swedish dioceses, dating from the Middle Ages. The rest have come into existence after that time and the Swedish reformation in the 16th century.
See also
- Church of Sweden Parishes
- Church of Sweden AbroadChurch of Sweden AbroadThe Church of Sweden Abroad - in Swedish: Svenska kyrkan i utlandet - is accountable to a special committee under the General Synod of the Church of Sweden and is under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Visby. SKUT has approximately 45 congregations throughout the world, concentrated in...
- Archbishop of UppsalaArchbishop of UppsalaThe Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
- Swedish churches in London
Other current, former, state and national Nordic Lutheran churches
- Danish National Church
- Church of NorwayChurch of NorwayThe Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
- National Church of Iceland
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of FinlandEvangelical Lutheran Church of FinlandThe Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the national church of Finland. The church professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion....