Nådendal Abbey

Nådendal Abbey, (Swedish: Nådendals kloster), was a Bridgettine abbey in then Swedish Finland, in operation from 1438 to 1591. The abbey was first situated in Masko, secondly in Bjärnå (1441) and finally in Nådendal in 1443. It was one of six convents in Finland during the middle ages, and the only nunnery.

Nådendal Abbey received many donations during the 15th century. During the Swedish Reformation of 1527, many donations was retaken from the donors families. The abbey was banned from accepting new novices and many members left, among them the abbess Valborg Joakimsdotter Fleming (reign 1526–1531). In 1554, the church silver was confiscated and the abbey was visited by Bishop Mikael Agricola, and its members was required to promise to become "evangelical", refrain from worshiping the saints and reading the revelations of Saint Bridget in public. In 1556, the estates and assets of the abbey was confiscated, but the remaining members were allowed a royal pension. The last recognized abbess, Birgitta Knutsdotter, died in 1577. By then, there was only four nuns and one monk left. The last nun, Elin Knutsdotter, was granted an allowance in 1584 and died in 1591.

Sources

• This page is a translation of its Swedish equivalent.