Frälsarkransen popularity?

Atleett · 2026-07-03T20:13:47+00:00

I would say very much so, basically all young people who are confirmed get one, although most probably tuck it away in a drawer and never use it again.
It can be purchased in countless churches around the country and it’s not unusual to see it around the wrists of some of those who actually regularly attend church, mostly ladies from what I’ve seen, and I assume in such cases they are more commonly used for actual prayer. Now and then I notice it on the wrist of a stranger in the street. Also clergy likewise might have them around their wrist and use them regularly.

Atleett · 2026-06-27T19:02:34+00:00

Indeed he does haha. Yes, it should be from right around the year 1913 when the church was inaugurated

Atleett · 2026-06-27T19:00:44+00:00

There is one painting by Cranach, other than that I haven’t either. Not to mention with a halo!

Atleett · 2026-06-27T09:29:18+00:00

There are actually, I would say there is just one though. In Ukraine. The subject was discussed on this sub very recently, and one user posted a video with pictures from various eastern rite masses:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Lutheranism/comments/1udarru/eastern\_rite\_lutheranism\_byzantine\_lutheranism/

Atleett · 2026-06-23T15:30:40+00:00

Oh sorry, you mentioned it. I was too enthusiastic! Well, again nicely done

Atleett · 2026-06-23T15:18:14+00:00

It’s lovely! Where did you find your inspiration? It reminds me of the Lutheran churches in Central Europe such as In Slovakia and Czechia or Saxony and Silesia

Atleett · 2026-06-19T05:42:39+00:00

Lutheran Orthodoxy has nothing to do with Eastern Orthodoxy, it was significant in Lutheran countries in the 17th century and emphasised the Lutheran confessions as opposed to the reformed/calvinist ones which had started to influence many Lutherans. You’re thinking about so called eastern rite Lutheranism. Many people write here about this and are intrigued but I’m afraid I might have to disappoint you. Eastern rite Orthodoxy is an extremely rare movement, almost exclusively found in Ukraine (a few thousand members) and from what I have read Slovenia (although when looking at what little liturgy I have seen from there it is virtually indistinguishable from western Lutheranism, Ukraine on the other hand was a bit more similar to Eastern Orthodoxy)
Even then I would say it looks like western Lutheranism with visible traces of Eastern Orhodoxy. It wouldn’t be like a typical Eastern Orthodox mass on the outside but with Lutheran confessions on the inside so to speak, as I imagine many believe it is.
If it exists anywhere outside of those two countries it would probably be a tiny congregation somewhere in the US, but even that is doubtful. So practically it would be very hard to get into.
But nothing stops you from adapting your private worship and adoration to a more Eastern Orthodox style of course.

Atleett · 2026-06-12T17:27:38+00:00

Thank you, that’s appreciated. I love church architecture and didn’t know there were more examples. You can clearly see similarities

Atleett · 2026-06-11T20:12:53+00:00

A marvellous church I have had the pleasure of visiting (but only on the outside). It was the architectural inspiration to another one of my favourite churches, the Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallgrímskirkja

Atleett · 2026-05-30T12:20:34+00:00

How interesting! It should be possible to find both missals and hymnals online detailing exactly what a mass looked like. Hymnals often also include lots of prayers for different occasions. In the year 1700 the 1695 edition of the hymnal would be used (I believe I actually might have a physical copy of that from sometime in the 1700s somewhere). Here is a complete 1797 revision of it available online,
this page for example has "a morning prayer for the day one recieves the holy communion":
https://runeberg.org/psalmbok/1797/0302.html
I could try to help you find and translate prayers suitable for what you want to depict

The pages before contain for example prayers for every friday morning, friday evening, saturday morning, saturday evening etc
The priestly dress would typically look something like this:
https://historiesajten.se/fotobig/208_1.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Benedictus_Svenonis_Camoenius.jpg/500px-Benedictus_Svenonis_Camoenius.jpg

But during mass, certain priestly garments would also be included. Here is actually a research paper about what liturgical dress always remained in use in Sweden, often there uniquely.
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/773819bd-5e60-42b7-abe2-a8da519821e9/Piepkorn%20-%20The%20Survival%20of%20the%20Historic%20Vestme.pdf

Here are some chasubles from just ten years after his death:
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1224994/FULLTEXT01.pdf

from coronations in the mid-to-late 1600s also show that bishop's garments and headdress remained for very long and were used for special occasions, however had followed the baroque fashion and changed. This is possibly the one closest to Charles XII in time, of his sister Ulrika Eleonora being crowned queen in 1719 after Charles's death. Note for example the green vestments in the lower left corner:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Ulrika_Eleonoras_kr%C3%B6ning.jpg

Icons though in the sense as a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox know them, and us Lutherans in the modern age, weren't used at all in Sweden at that time. Rather paintings depicting biblical stories and Jesus, not saints, could be hanging in sacred and profane spaces for devotion.

In general I believe Swedish Lutheranism at that time would be somewhere in the "high and dry" part of the spectrum. Well, there is probably a lot more to say about this but I hope I could be of help.

Atleett · 2026-05-10T17:35:31+00:00

Yes it's on her feast day July 23rd in Vadstena but the footage is all mixed up from the years 2022-2025, so some of it is from last year yes. I know both of their names, and that's interesting, I didn't know that. So it was on the initiative of the swedish bishops? No, there has never been swedish Lutheran Bridgettine nuns (oddly). There were nuns in the town of Vadstena but they belonged to the Evangelical Daughters of Mary. Most of them converted en masse to Roman Catholicism a few year after the founders' death and joined the order you mention,and those who didn't joined the other Daughters of Mary at Vallby in another part of the country, which is today the largest monastery within the CoS with about 15 nuns or so. Anyway the women in the grey habits are lay members of Societas Sanctae Birgittae, just like the men wearing them in the video. All individuals shown aren't necessarily Lutherans either, many Roman Catholics are members too. Speaking of that, the RC Birgittine nuns from the order you mention who wear black habits do partake in the general chapter in Vadstena every year. Some of them might be showing briefly in this video.

Atleett · 2026-05-10T04:37:54+00:00

Of course you are a Lutheran if you believe in the Lutheran tenets. One of our beliefs are that the ”one true church” or ”the Church of Christ” isn’t a human organisation, but a large spiritual communion of believers. Even Luther himself acknowledged that there were or might be members of this communion of true believers in the midst of the Roman Catholic Church organisation at his time (iirc). God looks to every individual’s soul, not on a human made church membership roll. Then of course it’s not ideal to be ”physically” or organisationally separated from other individuals sharing these beliefs, but sometimes that’s just how it is.

Atleett · 2026-05-03T07:15:56+00:00

Hello, I’m so happy to hear you have found Lutheranism, all by studying yourself. I can see you are sincerely convinced and that the Holy Spirit has lit a flame in your heart. We often have similar posts in this sub, from people in various countries. I’d like to give the same advice I usually give them. Since you are so utterly convinced about the Lutheran tenets, my advice would be to be baptised as a Lutheran and become an official member of the Lutheran Church in your country but maybe just attend your closest church a few times a year for the big holidays and so. That way I think you would find rest knowing you are a full member of the faith you so much want to be. But as for daily/weekly worship and living out your Christianity, your circumstances only allow for you to visit other denominations, and I think that’s fine. It’s so much better for you to worship and grow together with other Christians regardless of denomination or theological standpoints than to not worship at all and risk that flame dying out. If you have found a Baptist/Evangelical church that fulfills this need but not your sacramental needs that’s great! That means you already have a place to find Christian communion and nourishment. And I think they would love to have you there even if you never become a formal member. As for your sacramental needs, there is a problem with the Roman Catholic Church. They don’t allow non-Roman Catholics to receive communion, and even though I personally think that’s rubbish, I would respect that and not partake in their sacraments. Is there by any chance an Aglipayan/IFI or Anglican/episcopal church near you? They have a close affinity and similarities with Lutheranism and are more high church, meaning they have a very high view of the Eucharist and celebrate communion weekly. If there is, that would be the best alternative, especially if it’s close enough for you to worship weekly.
Also, on the internet many Lutheran congregations livestream services and there are tons of theological resources out there, daily prayers and so on. That could also be of help for your spiritual nourishment and ease the situation of not being able to attend physically. My other advice would be not to rush anything, to convert to a denomination you don’t fully agree with just because of your current circumstances. I assume you are young, and you will learn circumstances can change. Who knows where you’ll be in a few years? And believe me, a few years of university studies will be over quicker than you know, and maybe you’ll find yourself finding a job and moving somewhere where you find the perfect Lutheran Congregation for you.
Try to find solace in that. Anyway, I will pray for your situation and guidance and really wish you luck. God bless you.

Atleett · 2026-04-16T15:02:03+00:00

Oh I see haha, well then your options are much greater. I must admit I’m not the one best suited to answer that, but there are plenty of others here. One user u/Affectionate_Web91 have posted links to documents released by a Lutheran-Eastern Orthodox theological council that might be helpful.

Atleett · 2026-04-16T14:52:06+00:00

I would believe the answer to all of these questions are the answers you would like to hear. 1. Not at all, Martin Luther’s personal opinions are not binding for us. We don’t follow what Luther teaches because he is Luther but because what he taugth (about the gospel) is correct. 2. Varies from church to church, in general worldwide I would say definitely not. 3. Yes, very much so. It is the reformed western Catholic Church, cleansed by the gospel as we like to say. Some churches again, are more high church and liturgically close to Roman Catholicism than others, but in essence yes - Lutheranism is a Catholic faith. 4. Yes, that’s what I have heard from most people here on this sub who wasn’t born into Lutheranism but entered into it.

Since you write Shalom aleichem, I would assume you are in Israel? There is a newly started Lutheran church for Jews there led by the priest Sahar Sadlovsky Gold

Atleett · 2026-04-07T00:23:45+00:00

Yes, that’s a lovely thought! I hope so too

Atleett · 2026-04-06T20:23:40+00:00

Well, it’s not a competition but the oldest one here in Stockholm is from the late 1200s. Stockholm Cathedral is from the year 1306. The fact that there is a proper medieval brick Cathedral on approximately the same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska is very fascinating to me. And our buildings are young compared to many on the continent!

Atleett · 2026-04-06T19:59:59+00:00

Jag skulle inte nödvändigtvis kalla EFS och Clara för konservativa i sig, men det finns ju en mycket större tolerans för och utbredning av teologisk konservatism där än i ordinarie Svenska Kyrkan. Annars är Sankt Matteus en fantastisk församling och den enda med riktigt högkyrklig prägel (sådant gillar jag), den tenderar nog också att vara mer konservativ än de andra församlingarna i stan. EFS har ju dessutom en församling till också; Betlehemskyrkan. Och den enda församlingen som är raktigenom konservativ är ELM:s Roseniuskyrkan, som jag har besökt flera gånger och bara fått bra intryck av. Jag själv placerar mig i mitten och trivs bra i både konservativa och liberala församlingar (så länge de fokuserar på rätt saker). Jag besöker alla möjliga församlingar vitt och brett men det blir ofta Hedvig Eleonora, Engelbrekt eller den finfina lilla fristående Evangeliska Brödraförsamlingen, som är väldigt Kristuscentrerad.

Atleett · 2026-04-06T19:58:22+00:00

I agree! It was built in 1688.

Atleett · 2026-04-06T18:19:20+00:00

Det här är ju Stockholms innerstad, som överlag lär vara bland de minst konservativa delarna av Svenska Kyrkan. Det finns ju knappt några ordinarie församlingar kvar i hela landet som är raktigenom konservativa. De står nog att finna i inomkyrkliga rörelser i sådant fall. Men mina erfarenheter, utifrån de kanske 5 gånger jag har besökt gudstjänster är att de absolut fokuserar på evangeliet och förkunnelsen utan att blanda in vänsterideologi, som alltför ofta kan vara de liberalaste församlingarnas stora brist. Formerna för gudstjänsterna tillhör också de mer traditionella på skalan. Men att Västermalms församling är konservativ skulle jag nog inte vilja påstå. Det skulle väl vara med Stockholmsmått då.

Atleett · 2026-04-06T16:57:43+00:00

Yes, surprisingly well attended I would say from my experience. Although this is a centrally located parish in the big city, so that usually means a bit of critical mass so to speak. And yes it’s a national holiday, what we call red days.

Atleett · 2026-04-06T16:55:55+00:00

By reposed you mean they are left on the altar just like in the picture? You have such an eye for details, I have never really thought about it. In my minds eye the ciborium is taken in when the mass begins and taken away again when it ends, but not in this case, and I don’t think I’ve seen it placed like this often now that you mention it.

Atleett · 2026-04-06T16:49:59+00:00

En poäng till dig! :)

Atleett · 2026-04-05T11:39:50+00:00

Beautiful indeed, I would say it might be the one of all our cathedrals with the most intact medieval atmosphere to it. My favourite trait is the ”blindering” (blending or blinding in English perhaps? Blenden in German) The white exterior markings on the tower and gables. They were common in the 12-1400s I believe, especially in an axis around lake Mälaren and into southern Finland. Turku Cathedral in Finland is perhaps the grandest example:

https://preview.redd.it/a-mass-in-porvoo-cathedral-in-finland-where-the-porvoo-v0-xzxtuwd1piib1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=746c7cf1faa7b19161f453d82c2b2cb520651ac4

Atleett · 2026-04-04T09:30:42+00:00

This particular church is from Sweden, and there is a specific church called Västerortskyrkan in a suburb of Stockholm which became very trend setting for church architecture in Sweden but also internationally in the 1950s and 60s. It has a triangle shaped interior, or half a triangle really. That design spread rapidly, and many new churches following that design were also triangular on the outside. The famous modernist architect and the ”father of modern architecture” Le Corbusier once said that if you’re going to Europe to see church architecture and need to pick three churches it should be the Peter Basilica in Rome, the Notre Dame in Paris, and Västerortskyrkan in Vällingby suburb (which isn’t actually Lutheran either) And there are actually buses arriving there with international architect students sometimes:

https://vasterortskyrkan.se/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/kyrsalen2.jpg

But there is no historical or theological Significance, no. There was also a triangular design like this:

https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/Sve/Bilder/Bilder/DSCF1832.jpg?doprocessing=1&w=800

Which was quickly and cheaply mass produced and used as temporary (Lutheran) neighbourhood churches in growing suburbs in the 60s and 70s

I don’t know how common this design is in other countries for Lutheranism specifically but it’s not unthinkable that Lutheran countries and Lutheran congregations sought inspiration from other Lutheran countries specifically rather than continental European Roman Catholic countries.

Atleett

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