Mission History
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
The first Lutheran congregation was established in Riga, Latvia in 1523, and records there have a letter that Martin Luther wrote to the congregation. During the 18th century, the church in Latvia was influenced by the pietism of a movement started by Conrad Zinzendorf, and through his followers, Christian faith and literature saw a large role in the life and education of the people.
In 1918, the Republic of Latvia was founded and contributed to significant changes in the Lutheran Church -- church councils were elected; meeting synods were called for the first time; and the first bishops of the Lutheran Church were elected and consecrated.
However, when Latvia was invaded during World War II, control over church life was effectively turned over to the USSR Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults. Under such supervision, the church was discredited; its pastors arrested and deported; and church activity was strictly limited to Sunday services held in church buildings until a new archbishop was elected in 1969.
Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia numbers around 580,000 members, 297 congregations, and 136 pastors.