Martin Lönnebo

Karl Martin Lönnebo (27 February 1930 – 26 April 2023) was a Swedish clergyman who served as Bishop of the diocese of Linköping from 1980 to 1994.^[1]

The Right Reverend Martin Lönnebo
Bishop Emeritus of Linköping
Lönnebo in 2007
Church	Church of Sweden
Diocese	Diocese of Linköping
In office	1980–1995
Predecessor	Ragnar Askmark
Successor	Martin Lind
Personal details
Born	(1930-02-27)27 February 1930 Storkågeträsk, Sweden
Died	26 April 2023(2023-04-26) (aged 93) Linköping, Sweden
Nationality	Swede
Coat of arms

Lönnebo was born in Storkågeträsk in present-day Skellefteå Municipality.^[2] He studied theology at Johannelund theological seminary and was ordained within the Swedish Evangelical Mission (Evangeliska Fosterlands-Stitelsen, EFS) in 1954. In 1964 he received a D.Th. degree on his doctoral dissertation Albert Schweitzers etisk-religiösa ideal.^[3] He worked as a pastor and chaplain in Uppsala for a number of years, and was appointed Provost (domprost) of Härnösand in 1977. In 1980 he was elected Bishop of Linköping, where he remained until his retirement.

Lönnebo also wrote a number of books on religious life, many of them inspired by the spiritual traditions of northern Sweden, as well as by Eastern Christianity.^[1]

In 1993 he was awarded an honorary doctorate (PhD) at Linköping University.^[4]

In 1995, Lönnebo created the Wreath of Christ, a set of non-denominational prayer beads with 18 pearls to be used for meditation and devotional practices.^[5][6][7]

Lönnebo married Britt-Louise Ollikainen in 1958.^[8] They had three children.^[9]

Lönnebo died in Linköping on 26 April 2023, at the age of 93.^[10]

References

1. Martin Lönnebo entry in Nationalencyklopedin
2. "Skönt att livet är ändligt och kort". Dagens Nyheter. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
3. (approximate translation The ethical and religious ideals of Albert Schweitzer)
4. Hedersdoktorer vid Linköpings universitet Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (Honorary doctors at Linköping University), retrieved 18 April 2011
5. "Ett armband har blivit en trädgård". Ett armband har blivit en trädgård. Svenska Kyrkan. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
6. Lerner, Thomas (2 February 2015). "Så blev Frälsarkransen Sveriges första moderna radband". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
7. Johann G. Roten, S.M. "Lutheran rosary". University of Dayton. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
8. Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1995). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. Norstedts. p. 740. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
9. Lindh, Kristina (6 February 2020). "Lönnebo skriver om krisens tid". Kyrkans tidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 April 2023.
10. "Biskop emeritus Martin Lönnebo är död". Dagens Nyheter (Press release) (in Swedish). Church of Sweden. Retrieved 27 April 2023.