This week in Christian history: Denmark becomes Lutheran; archbishop of Canterbury dies
Denmark embraces the Lutheran Church – Oct. 30, 1536
This week marks the anniversary of when Denmark officially established the Lutheran Church, following years of growing Protestant influence in the Northern European nation.
Less than 20 years after the Protestant Reformation began in what is now Germany, King Christian III, a supporter of Martin Luther, ascended to the Danish throne following a brief civil war.
Shortly after securing power, Christian III convened a royal diet at which two documents were approved: one granting equal power between the crown and the nobles, and the other making Lutheranism the official state religion.
"The assembly confiscated church property, saying the bishops' role in the recent conflict had cost the nation greatly and needed to be repaid. Some of the confiscated property went to buy the support of pro-Catholic nobility," explained the Christian History Institute.
"By the second half of the sixteenth century, Denmark was producing notable theologians of whom Nils Hemmingsen was the greatest, recognized throughout Europe."
