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Encyclopedia > Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the Lutheran national church of Finland (The Finnish Orthodox Church is also recognized as a state church). With a membership rate of 83,1 per cent (2005) it is the largest denomination in Finland, though it has lost 0,6-0,8 per cent of it's members annually as society has secularized. Image File history File links Coat of Arms of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Luthers seal Lutheranism is a Christian tradition committed to the main theological insights of Martin Luther. ... The Finnish Orthodox Church is the second official national church of Finland, beside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ... See also civil religion. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Secularism is commonly defined as the idea that religion should not interfere with or be integrated into the public affairs of a society. ...


The head of the church is the Archbishop of Turku, currently Jukka Paarma. The Archbishop of Turku, or the Archbishop of Åbo is the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ... Jukka Paarma is the current Archbishop of Turku, and is the spiritual head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ...

Contents


History

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is a successor to the Church of Sweden of which it was a part until 1809, when the Grand Duchy of Finland became a part of the Russian Empire. Before the introduction of religious freedom in 1923 membership in either the Finnish Orthodox Church or the Evangelical Lutheran Church was compulsory. The Church of Sweden, or Svenska kyrkan, is the national church of Sweden. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Grand Duchy of Finland was a state that existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Finnish Orthodox Church is the second official national church of Finland, beside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ...


Teachings

The church is founded on the teachings of Martin Luther. It teaches that all who believe in Jesus will be saved. This is because every man sins, no one person can be good enough to God by his/her acts. As apostle Paul said, only the faith in Jesus Christ can save, for He carried all our sins and suffered the penalty we would have deserved. Thus we are saved by our faith in Him, our saviour. Luther at age 46 (Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529) The Luther seal Martin Luther (November 10, 1483–February 18, 1546) was a German theologian, an Augustinian monk, and an ecclesiastical reformer whose teachings inspired the Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines and culture of the Lutheran and Protestant traditions. ... Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the Nazarene (8-4 BC/BCE – 29-36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity, in which context he is known as Jesus Christ (from Greek Ιησούς Χριστός) with Christ being a title meaning Anointed One or Messiah. The main sources regarding Jesus life and...


The church does not control its members strictly, and members can be found to believe in things contradicting the teachings of the church, such as rebirth or horoscopes. The spirit of the New Testament is considered to be more important than the strict rules of the Old Testament. Rituals, such as weddings and funerals, are often considered to be the most important reasons to remain a member.


Organization

Finland is divided into nine Dioceses. Each diocese is headed by a Bishop and a cathedral chapter. Eight dioceses are regional, with the remaining one covering all of the country’s Swedish speaking parishes. The Church's supreme decision-making body is the Synod, which meets twice a year. Laymen make up a majority of the Synod, but a fixed number of seats have been set aside for clergies. Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ...


The Synod proposes changes in the Ecclesiastical Act and decides on the Ecclesiastical Order. The Synod deals with questions of doctrine and approves the books of the church. The Synod directs the Church's common activities, administration and finances. Congregation elections are held every four years to fill administrative posts at the local level.


Dioceses

Province Western Finland Region Finland Proper Sub-region Turku City manager Mikko Pukkinen Official languages Finnish, Swedish Area  - total  - land ranked 311th 245. ... Location within Finland Tampere (Swedish name Tammerfors) is a city in southern Finland located between two lakes: Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. ... City Oulu (1605) Administrative Province Oulu province Historical Province Ostrobothnia Area (2004-01-01)  â€“ Total (excl. ... The city of Mikkeli Mikkeli or S:t Michel in Swedish is a town and municipality in Finland. ... Province Southern Finland Region Eastern Uusimaa Sub-region Porvoo City manager Per-HÃ¥kan Slotte Official languages Finnish, Swedish Area  - total  - land ranked 138th 663. ... Kuopio is a Finnish city located in the province of Eastern Finland and the region of Northern Savonia. ... Lapua (Lappo in Swedish) is a municipality of Finland. ... Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki City manager Jussi Pajunen Official languages Finnish, Swedish Area  - total  - land ranked 342nd 185. ... Founded 1972 Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Greater Helsinki Area - Of which land - Rank 528 km² 312 km² ranked 279th Population - Population density - Rank 229,443 699 inh. ...

Finances

Because the church has the position as a state church it is able to collect membership fees in the form of taxes. It means that also businesses, to some extent, are forced to contribute financially to the church. See also civil religion. ...


See also

Mikael Agricola Mikael Agricola (c. ... The Treaty of Fredrikshamn (Freden i Fredrikshamn in Swedish and Haminan rauha in Finnish ) was a peace treaty concluded between Sweden and Russia on September 17, 1809. ... The Archbishop of Turku, or the Archbishop of Åbo is the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ... The Bishopric of Tampere is the second oldest and the largest diocese in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (473 words)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the Lutheran national church of Finland (The Finnish Orthodox Church is also recognized as a state church).
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is a successor to the Church of Sweden of which it was a part until 1809, when the Grand Duchy of Finland became a part of the Russian Empire.
Because the church has the position as a state church it is able to collect membership fees in the form of taxes.
Churches and religion — Virtual Finland (3137 words)
The church ministered to the destitute and infirm by maintaining houses for the poor and hospitals.
The diverse activities of the Lutheran Church are reflected in the structure of its personnel.
The Olaus Petri Congregation (a Finland-based congregation of the Lutheran Church of Sweden)
  More results at FactBites »

 

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