User:Kvasir/Church of Fyksland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Church of Fyksland (Vaijskär Lantiukirjke), formerly known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fyksland, is the state church of Fyksland and the largest Christian church in Fyksland. It is a Lutheran body and is officially supported by the government. The Ministry of XXX oversees the administrative authority of the Church, whereas the reigning monarch is the official leader. The Fyksian parliament is the supreme legislative authority for the church. According to statistics, XX% of Fyksian are members, although less than XX% of them regularly attend church service. The Church of Fyksland professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion, it is also member of Lutheran World Federation.

[edit] History

Christianity had reached Fyksland as early as the 9th century when monks from Ireland began to settle on the island. By early 10th century, much of the Celtic inhabitants were already Christianised. King XXX converted to Christianity and made his priority to convert the country using all means at his disposal. By destroying temples and persecuting pagan resisters he succeeded in making every part of Fyksland at least nominally Christian. However, it is evident that Celtic pagan practices continued to persist, at least privately, well into the early 16th century. Christianity existed independently of the Church of Rome until Pope XXX sent XXXX in the 12th century to fully evangelise the Fyksians in XXXXX who established his church in XXXX.

Over the next few centuries the Roman system introduced by XXXXX gradually absorbed the pre-existing Celtic Christian churches.

The Fyksian Church would become under papal authority for nearly XXXXX years. Meanwhile, Fyksian kingdoms successively came under the fealty to the Norwegian king by 1264, and in 1397 Fyksland became part of the Danish realm through the Kalmar Union. Christianisation intensified during Norwegian and Danish rule. The Reformation began some 40 years after Fyksland was made a Danish province in 1467. Lutheranism was first brought to Fyksland in 1521 by Hans Tausen. Under the reign of Frederick I (1523-33), Denmark remained officially Catholic. But though Frederick initially pledged to persecute Lutherans, he soon adopted a policy of protecting Lutheran preachers and reformers. During his reign, Lutheranism made significant inroads among the Danish and Fyksian populations. Frederick's son, Christian, was openly Lutheran, which prevented his election to the throne upon his father's death. However, following his victory in the civil war that followed, in 1537 he became Christian III and began a reformation of the official state church. Christian III's reformation of the state church saw the confiscation of church properties in Fyksland. Reformation was met with little resistance in Fyksland whose population have also grown increasing dissatisfied with the Church of Rome.

During this time the Bible was translated into Fyksian which has been believed to be a major force in preserving and standardising the Fyksian language.

When Fyksland became independent in 1547, the Fyksian dioceses came under control of King XXXX. Church of Fyksland was later established as part of the Constitution of Fyksland. When the Fyksian parliament (the Alþig) was created in 1598.

[edit] Organisation

Today, constitutional head is the reigning monarch of Fyksland, who is obliged to profess himself/herself to the Lutheran faith. It is subject to legislation and budgeting passed by the Fyksian parliament, and its central administrative functions is carried out by the Royal Ministry of XXX.

It is subject to further governance through a congregational, synodal and episcopal structure, all based on division of Fyksland into XX parishes, Xx deaneries, and XX dioceses. D