Wilhelmi Malmivaara
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm "Wilhelmi" Malmivaara (until 1900 Malmberg Swedish name, 13. February 1854, Lapua – 12. January 1922, Lapua) was one of the leaders of Finnish Awakening
in the beginning of the 20. century. He was also a member of the Parliament of Finland
belonging to the Finnish Party
in the years 1907–1914 and 1917–1919 (National Coalition Party). He was representative of clergy in the Diet of Finland
before Finnish independece in 1897, 1899, 1900 and 1904–05. He was also the member of the synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
in 1898, 1908, 1913 and 1918.
Malmivaara was the son of Finnish Awakening movement leader Nils Gustav Malmberg ja Helena Jaakontytär Huhtala. He worked together with Mauno Rosendal and Juho Malkamäki as a leader of the awakening movement and as a vicar (leading pastor) of Lapua
parish 1900-1922. Before that assistant pastor in Kiuruvesi
(1879–92) and vicar of Paavola
(1892–1900). The result of the work of Malmivaara and Malkamäki were awakenings in many places in southern Ostrobothnia
and the movement entered a new revival period.
Malmivaara is a notable Finnish hymnwriter who renewed the hymnal of Finnish Awakening Siionin virret
. Seven of his texts are included in Siionin virret
and three of his texts are used in the hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He also carried out the renewal of the hymnal originally composed by Finnish pastor and revivalist preacher Antti Achrenius. In 1888 Malmivaara founded the periodical of the Finnish Awakening Hengellinen Kuukauslehti.
Regarding alcohol Malmivaara opted for absolutism and introduced it into Finnish Awakening. In 1914 the first fold high school associated with the Awakening started in Lapua
s Karhunmäki.
As a preacher, Malmivaara was equal to his father and had a particular capability to touch the hearts of his listeners. His sermons have been published posthumously in two volume collection Viestejä vaivatuille (1927–33), which remains one of the most remarkable achievements in Finland in the field of published sermon literature.
Malmivaara's wife became Karin Rajander. The couple had several children among who several sons became pastors. Malmivaara's descendants are still represented in the Finnish clergy.
Awakening (religious movement)
The Awakening is a Lutheran religious movement in Finland which has found followers in the provinces of Savo and Ostrobothnia. The origins of the movement are in the 18th century. It has functioned inside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland throughout its existence...
in the beginning of the 20. century. He was also a member of the Parliament of Finland
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
belonging to the Finnish Party
Finnish Party
The Finnish Party was a Fennoman conservative political party in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland and independent Finland. Born out of Finland's language strife in the 1860s, the party sought to improve the position of the Finnish language in Finnish society...
in the years 1907–1914 and 1917–1919 (National Coalition Party). He was representative of clergy in the Diet of Finland
Diet of Finland
The Diet of Finland , was the legislative assembly of the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1809 to 1906 and the recipient of the powers of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates....
before Finnish independece in 1897, 1899, 1900 and 1904–05. He was also the member of the synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
The 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....
in 1898, 1908, 1913 and 1918.
Malmivaara was the son of Finnish Awakening movement leader Nils Gustav Malmberg ja Helena Jaakontytär Huhtala. He worked together with Mauno Rosendal and Juho Malkamäki as a leader of the awakening movement and as a vicar (leading pastor) of Lapua
Lapua
Lapua is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located next to the Lapua River in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
parish 1900-1922. Before that assistant pastor in Kiuruvesi
Kiuruvesi
Kiuruvesi is a town and municipality of Finland located in the former province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
(1879–92) and vicar of Paavola
Paavola
Paavola is a former municipality of Finland, now a village in the municipality of Siikajoki. The village is located beside the Siikajoki river. Though lacking rail transport connections, the settlement does lie beside the crossroads of routes 86 and 807....
(1892–1900). The result of the work of Malmivaara and Malkamäki were awakenings in many places in southern Ostrobothnia
Ostrobothnia
Ostrobothnia refers to various areas in Finland:* Ostrobothnia , province of the kingdom of Sweden before 1809* Ostrobothnia , in modern Finland* Other regions in modern Finland:** Southern Ostrobothnia** Central Ostrobothnia...
and the movement entered a new revival period.
Malmivaara is a notable Finnish hymnwriter who renewed the hymnal of Finnish Awakening Siionin virret
Siionin Virret
Siionin virret is a hymnbook of the Finnish Awakening religious revival movement . The hymnal is used in the traditional conventicle 'seurat' which is an informal religious gathering taking often place in homes. Hymns of Zion are also sung in the religious summer festival 'Herättäjäjuhlat' of the...
. Seven of his texts are included in Siionin virret
Siionin Virret
Siionin virret is a hymnbook of the Finnish Awakening religious revival movement . The hymnal is used in the traditional conventicle 'seurat' which is an informal religious gathering taking often place in homes. Hymns of Zion are also sung in the religious summer festival 'Herättäjäjuhlat' of the...
and three of his texts are used in the hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He also carried out the renewal of the hymnal originally composed by Finnish pastor and revivalist preacher Antti Achrenius. In 1888 Malmivaara founded the periodical of the Finnish Awakening Hengellinen Kuukauslehti.
Regarding alcohol Malmivaara opted for absolutism and introduced it into Finnish Awakening. In 1914 the first fold high school associated with the Awakening started in Lapua
Lapua
Lapua is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located next to the Lapua River in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
s Karhunmäki.
As a preacher, Malmivaara was equal to his father and had a particular capability to touch the hearts of his listeners. His sermons have been published posthumously in two volume collection Viestejä vaivatuille (1927–33), which remains one of the most remarkable achievements in Finland in the field of published sermon literature.
Malmivaara's wife became Karin Rajander. The couple had several children among who several sons became pastors. Malmivaara's descendants are still represented in the Finnish clergy.
Main works
- Kaita tie Joonaan kirjan valossa (1900)
- Puolivuosisataa heränneiden keskuudessa (1914)
- Elämän ääni (1954)
Further reading
- A. Oravala: Wilhelmi Malmivaara, Elämä ja elämäntyö (1929, 2. ed. 1930)
- O. Tiililä: Suomalainen kristillisyys Wilhelmi Malmivaaran edustamana (1944)
- Articles by J. Sinnemäki ja V. Kuoppala in Kytösavut I and II (1945 and 1946)