Zarys dziejów Kościoła katolickiego w Finlandii od końca XVIII wieku do początku XX wieku na podstawie opracowania poselstwa RP w Helsinkach z 1935 r.

Abstract

The article presents an outline of the history of the Catholic congregation in Finland in the period when this country belonged to Sweden and Russia and in the first years of the independent Finland. By the decision of the Swedish monarchs the Lutheran Church was established in Finland, which was occasioned by the Reformation in Europe. However, in that country also a number of Catholics lived and with the Acts issued in 1779 and 1781 Gustav III guaranteed them freedom of confessing their own religion. From 1809 as result of territorial changes in this part of Europe the Finnish lands under the name of the Grand Duchy were annexed to the Russian Empire. A multicultural Empire became the area where inner migrations took place, that resulted in the coming of more Catholics to the area of Finland - albeit they were not very numerous. The new Catholic arrivals also included soldiers who had served in the Tsarist army; and with the Tsar’s consent a Catholic parish was established for them in Helsinki in 1857. However, even earlier, namely in the Tsar’s ukase of 1812, permission was given to establish a parish in Viborg. The parish became part of the Mohylev Bishopric. The article shows the methods the Finnish Catholics used to gain the status of a legal personality for their Church in the period the territory was dependent on Russia and under the conditions of the independence they gained after 1917, as well as the forms those methods assumed. It also shows the conditions in which the small, numbering 1600 people, Catholic congregation existed; as well as its determination in their fight for full religious rights.