Humble and Arduous Beginnings
The establishment of the Christian Church in Sweden was a long and arduous process.
The Church was planted by the efforts of Anglo Saxon and Frankish Missionary Monks in the ninth century.
They first arrived in Viking territories and had mixed results.
Unfortunately, it would take several centuries until the seeds of the Faith they planted to take Root and Grow.
The opposition and superstition of the Pagans time after time nearly obliterated the Cause of Christ in Sweden.
However the promise of Christ “the gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church”
urged holy and dedicated Missionaries forward.
The centuries wore on and the Promise of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the eventual Victory shined brighter than the sun over the Swedish Church.
St. Ansgar a Frankish Monk arrived in the trading center of Birka in 829 a.d.
He built a small Church on Bjorko Island despite intense opposition from the Pagan tribes who inhabited the area.
St. Ansgar traveled to Denmark and finally settled in Germany where he went to his eternal reward in 865.
Unlike many of his contemporaries he escaped martyrdom at the hands of the enemies of Christ’s True Religion.
After many trials and tribulations; the hard work of dedicated Missionaries resulted in
establishing the See of Uppsala in 1164 as the Archbishopric of Sweden.
The Church in Sweden much like the Church in England did not involve a
radical break with Historic Christian Orthodox Faith and Practice.
Gustav Vasa the King of Sweden (1523 to 1560) endeavored to maintain unity in the Kingdom
as a matter of good civil order and practicality.
He understood the need for Church reform due to the machinations of the Bishop of Rome
which infiltrated the Kingdom at its most meager level.
He desired to regain much of the wealth to the Crown and its citizens that was extorted by the Papal Bishops and Priests.
The King employed Archdeacon Lauerntius Andreae who was a scholar in the Church to advise him on all Church matters.
The Archdeacon was well acquainted with the ramifications of acting with haste in reforming Church abuses.
He in turn sought out the help of Deacon Olavus Petri who had studied in Wittenberg under Doctor Martin Luther.
Ties with the Papal Church began to weaken as reforms began to be introduced by these men.
In 1527 with the approval of the Diet, the King was declared the Head of both Church and State.
The Church of Sweden reclaimed her rights as the National Church.
ARCHBISHOP LAURENTIUS PETRI OF UPPSALA 1531 to 1573
Lauerntius Petri Nercius was 32 years old when he was Elected, Consecrated and Appointed as Archbishop.
He was a Professor and well known Scholar, but had never held a pastorate.
He studied with his brother Deacon Olavus Petri under Doctor Martin Luther at Wittenberg.
It was during the time spent there the future Archbishop honed his Theological acumen.
The Archbishop proved to be quite prolific when it came to Church reform.
Although he had a high regard for Luther’s teaching, the Archbishop was his own man.
He related to King Gustav Vasa on many occasions of his desire to
“hold fast to that which is good and lay aside that which was not.”
On several occasions the King threatened life of the Archbishop
with imprisonment and death, but this did not deter him.
In order to break the authority of Bishops in the Swedish Church,
King Vasa desired to discontinue the Historic Episcopate.
The Archbishop’s resistance to this and other matters fueled the King’s anger.
Undaunted the Archbishop understood the importance of
looking back over the sixteen centuries in a return to the Apostolic Church.
He was keenly aware that theological and historical polarization needed to be avoided.
He understood the Fathers and Doctors of the Church who followed in
the footsteps of the Apostles needed consideration and a full hearing.
The Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church he viewed as of optimum importance.
He often referred to the first Four in his composing Theological Apologia.
The Archbishop taught that his beloved Swedish Church was
the Orthodox Christian Church of Sweden since the ninth century when she was Evangelized.
In 1571 the Archbishop issued his final work on the Reformed Church of Sweden.
“Canon Eccleiasticus” or the “Swedish Church Ordinance”
was ratified by the Church in Council in 1572.
Archbishop Petri died less than a year later in 1573.
The Historic Episcopate of Bishops, Priests and Deacons were to be retained.
The Apostolic Succession was secured in Sweden.
The Sacraments and Rites of the Church were to be freed of superstition and erroneous practices.
The Swedish Mass was based on the ancient Liturgies of the Western Church prior to the Schism of 1054.
Reservation of the Sacrament of the Altar was allowed that the sick might be properly ministered to.
Vestments, Candles, Altar Cloth’s and Church Hangings were retained.
The Tabernacle and Sacred Communion Vessels were kept in use.
Statues and Paintings of Christ and the Saints were also retained.
The Swedish Church Calendar was refined and many Holy Days retained.
The Archbishop made clear in his Ordinace;
“the purity of Word and Sacrament must never be compromised.”
THE LUTHERAN ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE
Within the Worldwide Lutheran Churches there exists great diversity.
The Liberalism that permeates many of these Churches is overwhelming.
The other extreme is the overreaching fundamentalism that
can be found within several Lutheran bodies.
These groups hold Biblical Principles and we commend them for this.
However in their zeal they have stripped the Augsburg Tradition of
much of the Beauty and Liturgical splendor that
Doctor Martin Luther fought his Contemporaries to retain.
Our Archdiocese has followed the example he left us.
The Organizers of the Lutheran Orthodox Archdiocese,
have appealed to the Wisdom of godly men who came before us.
Throughout the Centuries of the Undivided Church;
the Holy Spirit called upon Great Men to compose Writings
that are Worthy to be studied for Counsel and Learning.
With all of this before us and led by the Holy Spirit;
Lutherans who seek to follow the Principles set forth in
THE SWEDISH CHURCH ORDINANCE OF 1571
Caused a Mandate to be Decreed by
THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF BISHOPS
of the
UNION OF OLD SHERBORNE SARUM UPPSALA
to Establish the
THE LUTHERAN ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE
The Archdiocese seeks to be faithful to Historic Reformation principles.
We uphold the Truth of the 1530 Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
Our Service Books bear witness to our fidelity to the Augsburg Tradition.
We are forever in the gratitude of the example of the Faith and Piety of
Doctor Martin Luther who was chosen as God’s Man to begin the Work of Reform.
He never wavered for the cause of Christ in the midst of much adversity.
Archbishop Lauretntius Petri in the Nordic Nations proved to be
Doctor Martin Luther’s most capable and faithful son.
Our Archdiocese, together with these two Champions of Christ;
endeavor to maintain the Faith by following the well paved Path they forged.
“HERE WE STAND.”
INCARDINATION ~ CLERGY INQUIRIES ~ SEMINARY
In the Lutheran Tradition Ministerial Ordination takes differing forms.
Most adhere to a Presbyterial understanding with the Laying on of Hands by Pastors.
In recent years some Lutherans have sought to receive the Historic Episcopate of
Bishops, Priests (Presbyters) and Deacons.
The desire stems from an appreciation of having a Succession of Bishops
which can be traced back to the Apostolic Church.
The Archdiocese has a provision for accepting qualified men for the Ministry who
have not been Ordained by a Bishop of the Historic Episcopate.
We have no issue taking you as we have found you in this regard.
If accepted, a plan will be set into motion for you to be Ordained by
a Bishop holding the Historic Episcopate.
Those who have the title of Bishop will be evaluated on the
same basis as one holding the Office of Pastor.
We understand the Pastor to be an Office one is appointed to. Not an Ordination.
We Consecrate Bishops and Ordain Priests (Presbyters) and Deacons.
Upon Ordination our Clergy are appointed as Pastors.
We use the terminology of Priest and Presbyter interchangeably
which has been the custom of the centuries.
THE OFFICE OF LAY DEACONESS
The Archdiocese recognizes the important role females have had in the Church over the centuries.
The Deaconess often Ministers to Children, Women and the Elderly.
They teach Confirmation and Sunday School Classes. They have proved to be excellent fundraisers.
Females are encouraged to seek admission as a Lay Deaconess if they feel called into Church Service.
SEMINARY & SPIRITUAL FORMATION
The Archbishop Lauerntius Petri Theological Seminary is
our in-house school for preparing men for the Sacred Ministry.
Each applicant will be evaluated as to his knowledge and interest.
A specialized curriculum will be created to meet the needs of each individual.
Men from all walks of life, experiences, knowledge and
age renders it impractical to have a one size fits all Program.
Men will not be Ordained who cannot demonstrate sufficient knowledge of
of Sacred Scripture, Church History, the Lutheran Confessionals,
the Proper Manner of Conducting Public Worship and Theology.
Upon completion of all courses the Seminarian will be examined accordingly.
Our expectation is that all graduates will lack nothing in
knowledge that their Roman Catholic, Anglican or Lutheran counterparts possess.
Pastors with Missions, Chaplaincies, established Parishes and Dioceses are
welcomed to apply for admission to the Lutheran Orthodox Archdiocese.
If you would like more information, please contact us