[CHRISTIA] BIO: Mikael Agricola, Bishop of Turku (12 April 1557) and others
James Kiefer's E-Mail Relay
tradition who have preached the Gospel in Finland.
MIKAEL AGRICOLA, BISHOP OF TURKU (10 APR 1557)
Mikael Agricola (accent on the first syllable, as in most Finnish
words not compounds), was born in Uusimaa, Finland, about 1510. He
went to school in Viipuri (Viborg) and then in the cathedral town of
Turku (Abo). The bishop of Turku, a Dominican monk, sent him to
study at Wittenberg, where he met Luther and Melanchthon, and upon
returning home, became rector of the cathedral school and eventually
assistant to the bishop. On the death of the bishop in 1554, he was
consecrated as the new Bishop of Turku without papal approval, and
carried out a relatively conservative program of reform along
Lutheran lines, retaining traditional doctrines and practices
wherever he did not see scriptural grounds for rejecting them.
Mikael saw the importance of worship and teaching in the
Finnish language. He accordingly established rules of orthography
which are the basis of modern Finnish spelling, and wrote an Aapinen
(primer), a prayer book (with other information), a translation of
the New Testament, and a translation of the Liturgy. He translated
many hymns into Finnish, and collected hymns that had been written
or translated by others. He also took pains to learn what he could
about the ancient pre-Christian myths and folklore of the Finnish
people. He is accounted the father of written Finnish.
His accomplishments as a bishop are the more impressive when we
remember that they took place in a short time. Three years after he
became bishop, he was sent to negotiate a treaty with the Russians,
and on his return fell ill and died suddenly, in his forties.
PAAVALI JUUSTEN, BISHOP OF TURKU (1576)
Paavali (Paul) Juusten (1516-1576) was sent to Wittenberg along with
Mikael Agricola, and in 1554 he was consecrated first bishop of
Viipuri, which, until its seizure by the Russians in the 1930's, was
Finland's second largest city, exceeded only by the capital,
Helsinki (Helsingfors). From 1563 to 1576 he was Bishop of Turku. He
wrote a catechism and a manual for the clergy.
PAAVO HENRIK RUOTSALAINEN, PREACHER (27 JANUARY 1852)
Paavo Henrik (Paul Henry) Ruotsalainen (pronounce the "u" here as
"w" to make "uo" a diphthong) was born 9 July 1777 and spent most of
his life in Nilsia (sorry, Rand McNally doesn't know either). He was
a poor peasant, without formal education, but an outstandingly
effective preacher, and in his day the foremost layman in the Church
of Finland.
LARS LEVI LAESTADIUS, PREACHER (1800-1860)
Laestadius (accent on the second "a") was an outstanding Swedish
botanist who became a clergyman. On a preaching mission in Swedish
Lapland, he was moved by the devotion of some of the Lapp Christians
he met, and undertook to stir up others to a similar devotion.
Although he preached in Sweden, the movement stemming from him
spread to Finland, and the only groups following him that I know of
today are Finnish or Finnish-derived. (Can any listmembers,
especially Swedish ones, help me out here?) In Finland, his
followers retain their membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Finland and receive the sacraments from its ordained ministers,
but have their own "prayer-houses" where they gather for preaching,
singing, testimonies, and mutual encouragement. Their most
conspicuous distinguishing characteristics are: (a) an emphasis on
the importance of confessing one's sinfulness to another Christian
and receiving personal assurance of God's grace and forgiveness; (b)
simplicity of lifestyle -- a distrust of frills and amusements; (c)
exclusiveness -- a tendency to identify themselves with the Faithful
Remnant -- although there is variation here, and some of their
leaders have vigorously preached against this; (d) a style of
worship that is often very somber, but also allows for "holy
laughter." Historically, they have been heavily influenced by the
Moravians.
PRAYER (traditional language)
Almighty God, we praise thy holy Name for the men and women
whom thou hast sent to call the Church to its tasks and renew
its life, and especially at this time for thy servants Mikael
Agricola, Paavali Juusten, Paavo Henrik Ruotsalainen, and Lars
Levi Laestadius, whom thou didst call to preach to the peoples
of Sweden, Lapland, and Finland. Raise up, we beseech thee, in
this our day, teachers and prophets inspired by thy Spirit,
that their voices may give strength to thy Church and proclaim
the reality of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever.
PRAYER (contemporary language)
Almighty God, we praise you for the men and women you have sent
to call the Church to its tasks and renew its life, such as
your servants Mikael Agricola, Paavali Juusten, Paavo Henrik
Ruotsalainen, and Lars Levi Laestadius, whom you called to
preach to the peoples of Sweden, Lapland, and Finland. Raise up
in our own day teachers and prophets inspired by your Spirit,
whose voices will give strength to your Church and proclaim the
reality of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever.
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