Laestadianism

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Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861)

The Laestadian movement (lestadiolaisuus in Finnish and Laestadianismen in Swedish) is a conservative Christian revival movement prominent mostly in Finland, Sweden, Norway and North America. The guideline of their faith is the Bible. The teachings of Martin Luther and the botanist and preacher Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861) are highly valued. Laestadius started the movement as a pastor in the Church of Sweden in northern Sweden in the 1840s. He preferred his followers to be known simply as "Christians," but some started to call them "Laestadians." Laestadians are among the biggest 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 split into several different factions. The biggest faction, Conservative Laestadians, held their annual Summer Services in Perho, Finland in 2005.

Laestadians emphasize a Christian lifestyle. A valued tradition in their services is proclaiming the forgiveness of sins "in Jesus' name and blood" (in Finnish "Jeesuksen nimessä ja veressä"). When greeting each other, Laestadians say "God's Peace" in English, or in Finnish, "Jumalan terve" ("God's Greetings"). To take their leave of each other, they say "God's Peace" in English, or in Finnish, "Jumalan rauhaan" ("God's peace").

Laestadianism received its name from Pastor Lars Levi Laestadius. The movement was born in Swedish Lapland. Laestadius met a Lappish woman named Milla Clementsdotter of Föllinge, during an 1844 inspection tour of Åsele, who narrated various biblical teachings to Laestadius. This was an important meeting for Laestadius, because after it, he first understood the secret of living faith. He received his sins forgiven and he saw the path of life. He began to preach a new type of sermon and the movement began to spread from Sweden to Finland and Norway. Laestadius based his sermons on the Bible.

The total number of members in the various Laestadian groups in different countries is a few hundred thousand.