Petrus Kenicius

Peter Kenicius ( Latinized, originally Peter Königsson; * 1555 in Umeå, † February 3, 1636 in Uppsala ) was a Swedish Lutheran theologian and Archbishop of Uppsala.

Life

Kenicius, son of a merchant, studied after attending the Latin school in Gävle 1575-1578 at Uppsala University and was ordained in 1578. Subsequently, he completed his theological knowledge at the universities of Rostock and Wittenberg, where he became in 1586 a doctoral thesis master. After returning to Sweden, he became in 1587 professor at the Collegium Stockholmense, but fell out with King John III. and suffered a brief imprisonment. At the meeting of Uppsala in 1593 that ensured the victory of Lutheranism in Sweden, Kenicius acted as one of the twelve assessors. He then worked as a professor of theology at the rebuilt Uppsala University.

In the fall of 1595 Kenicius was appointed Bishop of Skara, and was a loyal follower of Duke (later King ) Charles ( IX ) at least since that time. 1608 Kenicius was appointed Bishop of Strängnäs, but had to travel to Livonia diplomatic mission before taking office. In March 1609 as Archbishop Olaus Martini died Kenicius was appointed to the King's wish to succeed him and introduced on July 2. In 1611 he was crowned king Gustav II Adolf and worked in the aftermath with him as loyal as before together with his father. 1617 he was in Uppsala to Dr. theol. doctorate.

Kenicius advocated particularly for the improvement of the Catechism teaching and theological education. For the latter purpose he translated Matthias Hafenreffers Compendium doctrinae coelestis, which became the dominant theological textbook in Sweden. In the dispute between John and Axel Oxenstierna Rudbeckius he entered on the side of the former for the independence of the Church.