Nådendal Abbey
Encyclopedia
Nådendal Abbey, was a Bridgettine abbey in then Swedish Finland
, in operation from 1438 to 1591. The abbey was first situated in Masko, secondly in Bjärnå (1441) and finally in Nådendal in 1443. It was one of six convents in Finland during the middle ages
, and the only nunnery.
Nådendal Abbey received many donations during the 15th century. During the Swedish Reformation
of 1527, many donations was retaken from the donors families. The abbey was banned from accepting new novices and many members left, among them the abbess Valborg Joakimsdotter Fleming (reign 1526–1531). In 1554, the church silver was confiscated and the abbey was visited by Bishop Mikael Agricola
, and its members was required to promise to become "evangelical", refrain from worshiping the saints and reading the revelations of Saint Bridget in public. In 1556, the estates and assets of the abbey was confiscated, but the remaining members were allowed a royal pension. The last recognized abbess, Birgitta Knutsdotter, died in 1577. By then, there was only four nuns and one monk left. The last nun, Elin Knutsdotter, was granted an allowance in 1584 and died in 1591.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, in operation from 1438 to 1591. The abbey was first situated in Masko, secondly in Bjärnå (1441) and finally in Nådendal in 1443. It was one of six convents in Finland during the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, and the only nunnery.
Nådendal Abbey received many donations during the 15th century. During the Swedish Reformation
Swedish Reformation
The Protestant reformation in Sweden was introduced beginning in 1527 during the reign of king Gustav I of Sweden. The Swedish reformation ment the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the foundation of the Swedish Church. It is considered the ending point of the Swedish Middle Ages. The...
of 1527, many donations was retaken from the donors families. The abbey was banned from accepting new novices and many members left, among them the abbess Valborg Joakimsdotter Fleming (reign 1526–1531). In 1554, the church silver was confiscated and the abbey was visited by Bishop Mikael Agricola
Mikael Agricola
Mikael Agricola was a clergyman who became the de facto founder of written Finnish and a prominent proponent of the Protestant Reformation in Sweden . He is often called the "father of the Finnish written language". Agricola was consecrated as the bishop of Turku in 1554, without papal approval...
, and its members was required to promise to become "evangelical", refrain from worshiping the saints and reading the revelations of Saint Bridget in public. In 1556, the estates and assets of the abbey was confiscated, but the remaining members were allowed a royal pension. The last recognized abbess, Birgitta Knutsdotter, died in 1577. By then, there was only four nuns and one monk left. The last nun, Elin Knutsdotter, was granted an allowance in 1584 and died in 1591.