Olaus Petri
Encyclopedia
Olof Persson better known under the Latin
form of his name, Olaus Petri (or less commonly, Olavus Petri), was a clergyman, writer, and a major contributor to the Protestant Reformation
in Sweden. His brother, Laurentius Petri
, became the first Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop of Sweden
. He and Laurentius are commemorated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
on April 19.
Olaus Petri first studied at the University of Uppsala, then in Leipzig
, and then finished his education with his M.A.
at the University of Wittenberg in 1518. During his time in Germany he got acquainted with the main characters of the German reformation, Philipp Melanchthon
and Martin Luther
.
He returned to Sweden with his brother in 1519. It is reported how they both nearly died as the boat ran ashore on the island Gotland
during a storm. They stayed on Gotland for a while and the bishop there, Mattias Gregersson, appointed Olaus as his secretary and as dean in 1520.
Olaus accompanied the bishop to Stockholm
in 1520, to the tumultuous crowning of the Danish King Christian II of Denmark
who had taken over Stockholm and held it for a year until he returned to Denmark. At the notorious Stockholm Bloodbath
in November several Church men and politicians were executed. Olaus expressed his outrage and was as a result almost executed himself, but a German who had seen him in Wittenberg saved him by explaining he was a German.
When the Swedish King Gustav Vasa was crowned in 1523, Olaus got to make his acquaintance. A year later he moved to Stockholm as town secretary. He spoke out sharply in favour of Lutheranism and against the prevailing Roman Catholicism.
In October 1524 he and his brother were excommunicated by the cathedral chapter in Uppsala
, on the grounds of heresy
. It appears as though this did not trouble him, partly because he still had a strong supporter in the Swedish King. In 1525 he married, and had the mass
sung in Swedish for the first time; one of Luther's ideas.
In 1531 the King declared Sweden to be Lutheran. This was mainly a result of the Petri brothers' efforts to teach the King and the population about Luther's tenets.
In 1539 Petri was ordained priest. But shortly thereafter he and the king Gustav Vasa had a falling out. Officially, the charge was for treason: Olaus had gotten knowledge of a conspiracy against the King during confession
but had not revealed it. Another suggested reason is that neither wanted to give in to their convictions—Gustav wanted to control the church, while Olaus wanted it to have a degree of self-government. During trial on January 2, 1540, a court sentenced him and Laurentius Andreae
to death.
After much bargaining and many requests, Olaus' friends managed to get him released on bail. He became inspector over the schools in Stockholm 1542 and dean of Storkyrkan
in Stockholm in 1543, wherein he also was buried at his death. Since 1898, there is statue of him outside Storkyrkan.
He was described as energetic and pushy and serious about matters in which he believed. He also wrote much, in fact he is responsible for a main part of the early printed
literature in Sweden. Among others he wrote a Chronicle of Sweden, which despite not being altogether correct contains many interesting facts. He was also responsible for the first Swedish translation of the New Testament (1526), and had an important part in the translation of the whole Bible (Gustav Vasa Bible
, 1543).
Olaus Petri is the main character of August Strindberg
's play Master Olof
(Swedish title: Mäster Olof).
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
form of his name, Olaus Petri (or less commonly, Olavus Petri), was a clergyman, writer, and a major contributor to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in Sweden. His brother, Laurentius Petri
Laurentius Petri
Laurentius Petri Nericius was a Swedish clergyman and the first Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop of Sweden. He and his brother Olaus Petri are, together with the King Gustav Vasa, regarded as the main Protestant reformers of Sweden...
, became the first Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop of Sweden
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
. He and Laurentius are commemorated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
on April 19.
Olaus Petri first studied at the University of Uppsala, then in Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, and then finished his education with his M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at the University of Wittenberg in 1518. During his time in Germany he got acquainted with the main characters of the German reformation, Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
and Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
.
He returned to Sweden with his brother in 1519. It is reported how they both nearly died as the boat ran ashore on the island Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
during a storm. They stayed on Gotland for a while and the bishop there, Mattias Gregersson, appointed Olaus as his secretary and as dean in 1520.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1520, to the tumultuous crowning of the Danish King Christian II of Denmark
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
who had taken over Stockholm and held it for a year until he returned to Denmark. At the notorious Stockholm Bloodbath
Stockholm Bloodbath
The Stockholm Bloodbath, or the Stockholm Massacre , took place as the result of a successful invasion of Sweden by Danish forces under the command of King Christian II...
in November several Church men and politicians were executed. Olaus expressed his outrage and was as a result almost executed himself, but a German who had seen him in Wittenberg saved him by explaining he was a German.
When the Swedish King Gustav Vasa was crowned in 1523, Olaus got to make his acquaintance. A year later he moved to Stockholm as town secretary. He spoke out sharply in favour of Lutheranism and against the prevailing Roman Catholicism.
In October 1524 he and his brother were excommunicated by the cathedral chapter in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, on the grounds of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. It appears as though this did not trouble him, partly because he still had a strong supporter in the Swedish King. In 1525 he married, and had the mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
sung in Swedish for the first time; one of Luther's ideas.
In 1531 the King declared Sweden to be Lutheran. This was mainly a result of the Petri brothers' efforts to teach the King and the population about Luther's tenets.
In 1539 Petri was ordained priest. But shortly thereafter he and the king Gustav Vasa had a falling out. Officially, the charge was for treason: Olaus had gotten knowledge of a conspiracy against the King during confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
but had not revealed it. Another suggested reason is that neither wanted to give in to their convictions—Gustav wanted to control the church, while Olaus wanted it to have a degree of self-government. During trial on January 2, 1540, a court sentenced him and Laurentius Andreae
Laurentius Andreae
Laurentius Andreae was a Swedish clergyman and scholar who is acknowledged as one of his country's preeminent intellectual figures during the first half of the 16th century...
to death.
After much bargaining and many requests, Olaus' friends managed to get him released on bail. He became inspector over the schools in Stockholm 1542 and dean of Storkyrkan
Storkyrkan
Sankt Nikolai kyrka , most commonly known as Storkyrkan and Stockholms domkyrka , is the oldest church in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is an important example of Swedish Brick Gothic...
in Stockholm in 1543, wherein he also was buried at his death. Since 1898, there is statue of him outside Storkyrkan.
He was described as energetic and pushy and serious about matters in which he believed. He also wrote much, in fact he is responsible for a main part of the early printed
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
literature in Sweden. Among others he wrote a Chronicle of Sweden, which despite not being altogether correct contains many interesting facts. He was also responsible for the first Swedish translation of the New Testament (1526), and had an important part in the translation of the whole Bible (Gustav Vasa Bible
Gustav Vasa Bible
The Gustav Vasa Bible is the common name of the Swedish Bible translation published in 1540-41. The full title is as appears on the right: Biblia / Thet är / All then Helgha Scrifft / på Swensko...
, 1543).
Olaus Petri is the main character of August Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
's play Master Olof
Master Olof
Master Olof is a historical drama in five acts by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. The story is about the reformer Olaus Petri's struggle against the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century...
(Swedish title: Mäster Olof).