MICHAEL AGRICOLA. — Born c. 1508 or 1512 at Torsby in the parish of Perna or Pernaja, and died suddenly on 9 April 1557 near Viborg (Viburi), where he was buried in the cathedral. “Agricola” is a surname Latinized from the German (Bauer), in accordance with the customs of the time; Luther, in mocking distortion, instead of “Agricola” nicknamed him “Grickel.”
A., regarded as the reformer of Finland, is the founder of the Finnish language. After completing his elementary studies at Åbo, he was sent by Martin Skytte, Lutheran bishop of that city at the instigation of Gustav Vasa, to continue his education at Wittenberg (1526–39), where he attended the lectures of Luther and Melanchthon and was won over to Protestantism. On his return from Wittenberg, he was appointed rector of the cathedral school at Åbo, then became coadjutor to Skytte (1548), and after Skytte’s death he administered the diocese. Finally (1554–57), after the diocese had been divided into two parts, Åbo and Viborg, he was elected bishop of Åbo, then the capital of Finland.
Works. — During a decade of indefatigable labour he published various writings: about 1542 an Abbecedario; shortly afterwards a Catechism of Luther; in 1544 a book of prayers followed. In 1543 he published the translation of the New Testament which he had begun during his student years; in 1549 the ritual for Baptism; in 1551 he continued the publication of the translation of other parts of the Bible, the Psalms and the Prophets. The preface to the Psalter contains a list of the pagan deities of Finnish mythology. In 1552 he published translations of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Since at that time the art of printing had not yet been introduced into Finland, which was incorporated into Sweden, his works were printed in Stockholm. Following the example of his master, he employed the vernacular for the teaching of religion, the cultivation of worship, and the dissemination of the Bible, and thus became the founder of the Finnish literary language.