History

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland belongs to the western branch of Christianity. Here are some key dates in our history:

• c. 1000–1200 Christian burial customs are adopted in Finland
• 1155 Bishop Henry arrives
• 1300 The Turku Cathedral is consecrated
• 1488 The Missale Aboense is published
• 1507–1557 The life of Mikael Agricola, the Finnish reformer
• 1548 The New Testament is translated into Finnish
• 1642 The complete Finnish Bible is now translated
• 1809 Finland becomes part of the Russian Empire
• 1817 The Bishop of Turku is made Archbishop
• 1869 The new church law is passed
• 1917 Finland gains its independence
• 1923 The Freedom of Religion Act is passed
• 1988 The first women are ordained as pastors
• 1996 The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland signs the Porvoo Agreement