The Faculty of Theology Celebrates 90th Anniversary

At present the Faculty of Theology is the only academic institution in Latvia that offers the opportunity to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees as well as teacher’s qualification in the fields of theology and religion research in internationally recognised study programmes. The Faculty is proud of its history and its modern, critical scientific approach to the theology and religion research. In the academic year 1939/40 the UL Faculty of Theology had more students than any other faculty of theology in Europe (228 students and 18 faculty staff members). Initially the UL Faculty of Theology was predominantly concerned with the Lutheran branch of Christian theology, but 17 years later, in 1937, the Department of Christian Orthodox theology was created. A year later in 1938, yet another faculty of theology was established – a representative of the Roman Catholic theology. However, in 1940 both faculties were closed and the library books burnt; their students were forbidden to continue studies in other faculties and members of teaching staff were denied their pension. In 1959/60, Lutheran theology courses were launched. An order issued on March 15, 1990, re-established the Faculty of Theology previously unlawfully closed in August, 1940, and announced its resumption of studies with September 1^st. Among the Faculty of Theology staff have been such great theologians and members of society as Prof. K.Kundziņš, Prof. V.Maldonis, Doc. E.Rumba, Prof. L.Adamovičs, V.V.Klīve, R.Feldmanis, P.Žibeiks and many others.


Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.