Laestadianism

Laestadianism is an important conservative Lutheran Christian movement especially in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia and North America. It was founded in Swedish Lapland by the shepherd and botanist Lars Levi Laestadius.

In the Nordic countries, the Laestadian movement officially belongs to the respective state churches, although it has its own rites for baptism, the Eucharist and confirmation. In the United States, where they do not have a state church, Laestadians perform their religious ceremonies in so-called houses of prayer.

Lestadius began the movement as a pastor in the Church of Sweden in northern Sweden in the 1840s. His wish was for the Laestadians to be called only Christians but some groups began to call themselves the Laestadians. Laestadianism is among the largest revival movements within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Church of Sweden.

Due to various kinds of disagreements in the congregation, the movement has been divided into several factions. Laestadianism accentuates the essence of the Christian life. According to tradition, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in the meetings "in the name and blood of Jesus". Laestadians regularly greet each other with the "peace of God" for introductory greetings. They also often have large families; Families with 10 or 15 children are not uncommon. Many Laestadians marry young. The total number of members of this Christian movement, in the different groups that constitute it in various countries, reaches several hundred thousand. They also have meetings in Spain.