Eivind Josef Berggrav

Nationality

Norway

Date of Birth

1884

Date of Death

1959

Political
Preference

Christian (Democrat and Socialist?)

Eivind Josef Berggrav studied theology in Oslo beginning in 1903 and continued the family tradition by becoming a priest in the Church of Norway. Berggrav became known for his unyielding resistance against the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II. He also became an important figure in 20th-century ecumenical movement and served as president of the United Bible Societies and the World Council of Churches.

In 1928, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Hålogaland, where until 1937 he marked himself as a popular bishop, while at the same time having strong and clear opinions. His book on his stay in Northern Norway became a bestseller in 1937. This year he became bishop of Oslo, which he remained until 1950. In the years immediately before the war, Berggrav worked with then Crown Prince Olav and others to try to mediate between Germany and England. However, over the years he steered active dissatisfaction about Hitler’s regime in Norway. He convinced the Norwegian bishops to lay down their offices in protest against the occupation in February 1942, and Berggrav was arrested in April of that year. He was detained in his cabin in the woods of Asker for three years, where he wrote several books that were later published. Berggrav often secretly left his hut in Asker to meet with the Norwegian underground. Time Magazine put Berggrav on the cover of its Christmas 1944 edition and he thus gained wide recognition beyond Norway as well.

After the war, Berggrav met with Martin Niemöller, who had also been arrested for his religiously inspired protests against the Nazis for many years in the context of the Provisional Committee of the World Council of Churches. Later becoming one of the WCC’s presidents, Berggrav also joined the CCIA as one of the representatives of Scandinavia.