FINLAND, CHURCH OF

in full Evangelical Lutheran Church Of Finland, Finnish Suomen Evankelis-luterilainen-kirkko, national church of Finland, which changed from the Roman Catholic to the Lutheran faith during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Christianity was known in Finland as early as the 11th century, and in the 12th century Henry, bishop of Uppsala (Sweden), began organizing the church there. He suffered a martyr's death and eventually became Finland's patron saint. Through the influence of Sweden (which ruled in Finland from the 13th century until 1809), Finland gradually accepted Christianity. When Lutheranism was adopted by Sweden, it was also introduced into Finland and was declared the official religion of the country in 1593. The outstanding Finnish Reformer was Mikael Agricola, who had studied at Wittenberg, where Martin Luther was a professor. Consecrated the first Lutheran bishop of Turku (1554), Agricola wrote several religious works, including a Finnish translation of the New Testament (1548). During the 17th century the Finnish church, like the German and other Scandinavian Lutheran churches, was influenced primarily by Lutheran orthodoxy. In the 18th century the dominating influence was Pietism, the movement that began in Germany and emphasized personal religious experience and reform. Three revival movements during the 19th century caused many Finns to develop a deeper commitment to the church. In the 20th century a larger percentage of the people took part in church activities than was common in other Scandinavian countries. The Church of Finland is divided into dioceses, each headed by a bishop, with the archbishop of Turku as the presiding bishop of the church. The church assembly, which meets every five years and is composed of both clergy and lay church members, is the church's highest legislative body. The bishops' council, consisting of the bishops together with representatives of pastors and lay members from each diocese, meets twice annually to conduct the church's business. There are facilities for theological education at the University of Helsinki and at the Swedish University in Turku. The church's relationship with the state was defined by a church law in 1869. The state gives financial support to the church, and the president of the republic and the Parliament must approve the church laws proposed by the church assembly. Bishops are appointed by the president from candidates proposed by the dioceses. Since 1922 a Finnish citizen can legally withdraw from the national church and belong to no church or to another church. More than 90 percent of Finns, however, are members of the Church of Finland. Cultural life The arts Finland's national epic, the Kalevala, compiled in the 19th century by the scholar Elias Lnnrot from old Finnish ballads, lyrics, and incantations, played a vital part in fostering Finnish national consciousness and pride. Indeed, the development of almost all Finland's cultural institutions and activities has been involved with and motivated by nationalist enthusiasm. This theme can be demonstrated in the growth and development of Finnish theatre and opera, in writing and music, in art and architecture, and also in sport. The festivals of various arts, held annually at places such as Helsinki, Vaasa, and Kaustinen, and the postwar proliferation of museums in Finland show an awareness of the individuality and importance of Finland's contribution to world culture. Savonlinna, in particular, is celebrated for its annual opera festivals. Theatre, opera, and music Drama in Finland is truly popular in the sense that vast numbers act in, as well as watch, theatrical productions. Besides the approximately 40 theatre companies in which all the actors are professionals, there are some in which a few professionals or even the producer alone are supplemented by amateur performers. There are amateur theatrical companies in almost every commune. The country's most important theatre is the National Theatre of Finland, established in 1872 with Kaarlo Bergbom as producer and manager; its granite building in Helsinki was built in 1902. There are also several other municipal theatres. One of the most exciting in the country is the Pyynikki Open Air Theatre of Tampere, the revolving auditorium of which can be moved to face any of the natural sets. There are innumerable institutions connected with the theatre in Finland, including the Central Federation of Finnish Theatrical Organizations. There is a wide repertory of Finnish as well as international plays. The Finnish theatre receives some degree of government assistance. The main centre for opera is the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki; the Savonlinna Opera Festival takes place every summer. The international success of Finnish singers such as Taru Valjakka, Jorma Hynninen, and Martti Talvela has added to the continuing national enthusiasm for opera. Several new Finnish operas, including The Last Temptations by Joonas Kokkonen and The Horseman by Aulis Sallinen, have received successful premieres. Sallinen's The King Goes Forth to France (1984) was commissioned jointly by The Royal Opera Covent Garden, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Savonlinna Opera Festival. The dominant figure in Finnish music during the first half of the 20th century was Jean Sibelius, the country's best-known composer, who brought Finnish music into the repertoire of concert halls worldwide. The centre for higher musical studies in Helsinki was renamed the Sibelius Academy. The city is also the location of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Sibelius violin competition and Mirjam Helin song competition are held there every five years. There are annual music festivals in Helsinki and several other cities. Internationally known Finnish conductors include Paavo Berglund, Okko Kamu, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.