"Danish Church" redirects here. For other uses, see Danish Church (disambiguation).
Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark
Folkekirken
Type
Communion
Classification
Protestant
Orientation
Lutheran
Scripture
Bible
Theology
High Church Lutheranism
Evangelical Catholic
Polity
Episcopal
Supreme Authority
Frederik X of Denmark and the Folketing
Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs
Morten Dahlin
Primate
Peter Skov-Jakobsen
Dioceses
11
Parishes
2,163 (November 2019)[1]
Associations
Lutheran World Federation
World Council of Churches
Conference of European Churches
Porvoo Communion
Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe
Region
Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland, excluding Faroe Islands)
Language
Danish
Origin
1536; 488 years ago (1536)
Separated from
Catholic Church in Denmark
Separations
Church of Iceland
Church of the Faroe Islands
Members
4.253.575 (71.4%, January 2024)[2]
Places of worship
2,354 (2014)[1]
Aid organization
Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (ACT Alliance Denmark)
Official website
Official website(in Danish) Official website(in English)
The Marble Church is an iconic landmark in CopenhagenThe Bible, main altar of Roskilde Cathedral
The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark or National Church (Danish: Folkekirken, lit. 'the People's Church', or unofficially den danske folkekirke, 'the Danish People's Church'; Greenlandic: Ilagiit, lit. 'the Congregation'), sometimes called the Church of Denmark, is the established, state-supported church in Denmark.[3] The supreme secular authority of the church is composed of the reigning monarch and Denmark's Parliament, the Folketing.[4] As of 1 January 2024[update], 71.4% of the population of Denmark are members,[2] though membership is voluntary.[5]
Chalcedonian Christianity was introduced to Denmark in the 9th century by Ansgar, Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. In the 10th century, King Harald Bluetooth became a Catholic and began organizing the church, and by the 11th century, Christianity was largely accepted throughout the country. Since the Reformation in Denmark, the church has been Evangelical Lutheran, while retaining much of its high church pre-Reformation liturgical traditions.
The 1849 Constitution of Denmark designated the church "the Danish people's church" and mandates that the state support it as such.[6]
The Church of Denmark continues to maintain the historical episcopate. Theological authority is vested in bishops: ten bishops in mainland Denmark and one in Greenland, each overseeing a diocese. The bishop of Copenhagen is primus inter pares.
^ abKinkel, Jens (16 November 2019). "Churches in Denmark". Danmarks Kirker (in Danish). Retrieved 16 November 2019.
^ abChurch membership 1990–2024 folkekirken.dk (in Danish)
^State fundings to the National Church Archived 2006-11-01 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish). Retrieved 21 January 2011
^kristendom.dk – "Dronningen og forholdet til folkekirken" Archived 2011-12-20 at the Wayback Machine – In Danish.
^Freedom of religion and religious communities in Denmark Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
^According to the Constitution of Denmark § 4, "the Evangelical-Lutheran Church is the Danish people's church and is supported as such by the State" ("den evangelisk-lutherske kirke er den danske folkekirke og understøttes som sådan af staten")
Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark or National Church (Danish: Folkekirken, lit. 'the People's Church', or unofficially den danske folkekirke, 'the Danish People's...
Catholic Church in Denmark (Danish: Den Katolske kirke i Danmark) is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope...
Denmark (Danish: Danmark, pronounced [ˈtænmɑk] ) is a Nordic country in the south-central portion of Northern Europe. It is the metropolitan part of and...
the largest religion in Denmark. As of 2022, 72.5% of the population ofDenmark were registered members of the ChurchofDenmark (Den Danske Folkekirke)...
Church frescos or church wall paintings (Danish: kalkmalerier) are to be found in some 600 churches across Denmark, no doubt representing the highest concentration...
The monarchy ofDenmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom ofDenmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous...
the king ofDenmark". A majority of Danes, 82.1% (as of January 2008), are members of the Evangelical Lutheran ChurchofDenmark—by Section 4 of the constitution...
is a prevalent religion in Denmark; in January 2023, 72.1% of the population ofDenmark were members of the ChurchofDenmark. According to a survey based...
who are not members of the ChurchofDenmark finance its activities through taxes. All members of the Evangelical Lutheran Churchof Finland and the Finnish...
II (Danish: [mɑˈkʁeˀtə]; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark...
The Churchof Greenland (Greenlandic: Ilagiit, lit. 'The Congregation'; Danish: Grønland Stift), consisting of the Diocese of Greenland is the official...
Princess Marie ofDenmark, Countess of Monpezat, RE (born Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier; 6 February 1976) is a member of the Danish royal family. She is...
The history ofDenmark as a unified kingdom began in the 8th century, but historic documents describe the geographic area and the people living there—the...
Demographic features of the population ofDenmark proper, part of the Danish Realm, include ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic...
debat". DR (in Danish). 28 February 2023. Official days to use the flag in Denmark (in Danish) Office Holidays in Denmark (specific dates of holidays in...
Constitutional Act of the Realm ofDenmark (Danish: Danmarks Riges Grundlov), also known as the Constitutional Act of the Kingdom ofDenmark, or simply the...
at the Holmen Church on 10 June 1967 and became her prince consort when she succeeded her father, King Frederik IX, as monarch ofDenmark on 14 January...
The majority of the Greenlandic population is Christian and associates with the ChurchofDenmark via the Churchof Greenland, which is Protestant in classification...
Caritas Denmark (Danish: Caritas Danmark) is a Danish nonprofit organisation. It is the official aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Denmark and implements...
Danish Lutheran Church may refer to: Danish Lutheran Church (Alta, Iowa), listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Buena Vista County, Iowa...
Churchof the Faroe Islands (Faroese: Fólkakirkjan, lit. 'people's church'; Danish: Færøernes folkekirke), also known as the Faroese People's Church,...
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