Church of Valkea

Church of Valkea
Valken kirkko
Classification	Protestantism
Orientation	Lutheranism
Polity	Episcopal
Primate	Archbishop Juho Iivonen
Associations	Astyrian Lutheran Federation
Region	Valkea
Language	Valkean
Headquarters	Kiesimä, Valkea
Founder	King Pekka I of Valkea
Origin	1536
Separated from	Roman Catholic Church
Members	25,681,651
Official website	www.valkenkirkko.vk

The Church of Valkea is an Evangelical Lutheran protestant church in Valkea. Formerly the state church, it is the largest Christian denomination in Valkea, boasting more than 25 million members, and one of the larger Lutheran denominations in Lorecia. It is a member of the Astyrian Lutheran Federation.

The Church is part of the Lutheran branch of Christianity. The Primate of the Church of Valkea is the Archbishop of Kiesimä, currently Archbishop Juho Iivonen. The Church is divided into 12 dioceses, which are in turn divided into parishes that follow municipal boundaries.

History

Middle Ages

Due to its geographical location in Northern Lorecia, Christianity hadn't arrived in Valkea until the 11th century. Early efforts to introduce the new religion were led primarily by St. Arne, a monk from < place > who arrived in 1024. He established a church in Kallsö and remained as a missionary until 1027. He returned to Kallsö in 1035 to strengthen the church and conducted Christianization efforts on the mainland beginning in 1036. However, he was martyred in Taimo in 1041.

1134 is traditionally held as the year the Kingdom of Valkea was Christianized, when King Magnus III was baptized. Throughout his reign, numerous jarls had resisted his Christianization efforts, culminating at the Battle of Rautoja in 1143, where Magnus III was killed. In 1156, Kiesimä was established as the seat of the Valkean archbishop, where it remains to the present day.

However, despite a continued effort from the monarchy to spread Christianity throughout Valkea, many pagan religions continued to survive in the interior throughout the 12th century and beyond. Little was done to introduce the faith to the Lumika and the Velgi until Valkea's expansion northwards in the 15th century brought with it a series of military crusades.

Dioceses and Bishops

The Church of Valkea is divided into 14 dioceses, each of which has a bishop and a cathedral chapter.

Diocese	Seat	Cathedral	Founded
Archdiocese of Kiesimä	Kiesimä	Kiesimä Cathedral	1156
Diocese of Kallsö	Kallsö	Kallsö Cathedral	1041
Diocese of Limapaa	Limapaa	Limapaa Cathedral	1083
Diocese of Ervasti	Ervasti	Ervasti Cathedral	1095
Diocese of Kursalo	Kursalo	Kursalo Cathedral	1170
Diocese of Novika	Novika	Novika Cathedral	1236
Diocese of Maarinnat	Maarinnat	Maarinnat Cathedral	1365
Diocese of Mustakivi	Mustakivi	Mustakivi Cathedral	1407
Diocese of Sammaljoki	Sammaljoki	Sammaljoki Cathedral	1543
Diocese of Pikkala	Pikkala	Pikkala Cathedral	1556
Diocese of Kokousaali	Kokousaali	Kokousaali Cathedral	1578
Diocese of Källalivi	Källalivi	Källalivi Cathedral	1713
Diocese of Kiviperä	Kiviperä	Kiviperä Cathedral	1863
Diocese of Tuorlahti	Tuorlahti	Tuorlahti Cathedral	1871