Nicolaus Matthiae Rungius (also spelled Ryngius or Ryngen in contemporary sources; born ca. 1560 in Loimaa - died 1629 in Keminmaa) was a vicar of Keminmaa, Finland, known for his mummified body in the Keminmaa old church.[1]
Rungius rests under the floor where the hatches are open.Rungius in his grave. Source: Museovirasto 1987.
Rungius was born at the Rynkö homestead in Loimaa, and so he was named Ryngius (later changed to Rungius). He worked as a chaplain in the Nykarleby and Keminmaa churches. He married Helena, the daughter of the Kemi vicar Simon Ruuth, and followed his father-in-law as vicar. As vicar, he managed matters all over the Kemi Lapland area, but was not an unusual preacher during his lifetime.[1] Rungius served as vicar during the Thirty Years' War and died in 1629. As was the custom at the time, he was buried underneath the church floor.[2]
Rungius's reputation grew when his body, which had been mummified instead of decomposing, was found underneath the church floor during the Greater Wrath in the early 18th century. Thus started stories about his powerful words and miracles. A legend of sainthood proportions surrounded him and people went as far as to go on pilgrimages to see his body. Rungius has been claimed to have said during his life: "If my words are not true, my body will decompose, but if they are true, it will never decompose."[1]
The special thing about Rungius's body is that it has not been intentionally protected from decomposition, but it has naturally dried up underneath the church floor. At least in 1875, the body still retained two arms, but one of them has later disappeared. It has apparently been taken as a relic.[1]
The vicar's body is still in the Keminmaa old St. Michael Church underneath the floor between the altar and the sacristry, protected by glass. Visitors may see the mummy during summertime, when the church is open for tourists, but the corpse may not be photographed.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdVahtola, Jouko: Rungius, Nicolas (ca. 1560 - 1629). Online publications of Kansallisbiografia (for-pay), 16 September 1997. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
^"Kirkkoneuvoston päätöksellä muumion kuvaaminen on tosin nykyään kielletty." (Kaleva, 7.12.2010.) (in Finnish)
External linksEdit
Prästen vars kropp inte förmultnar! 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Swedish)
August 29, 2023
nicolaus, rungius, nicolaus, matthiae, rungius, also, spelled, ryngius, ryngen, contemporary, sources, born, 1560, loimaa, died, 1629, keminmaa, vicar, keminmaa, finland, known, mummified, body, keminmaa, church, rungius, rests, under, floor, where, hatches, o. Nicolaus Matthiae Rungius also spelled Ryngius or Ryngen in contemporary sources born ca 1560 in Loimaa died 1629 in Keminmaa was a vicar of Keminmaa Finland known for his mummified body in the Keminmaa old church 1 Rungius rests under the floor where the hatches are open Rungius in his grave Source Museovirasto 1987 Rungius was born at the Rynko homestead in Loimaa and so he was named Ryngius later changed to Rungius He worked as a chaplain in the Nykarleby and Keminmaa churches He married Helena the daughter of the Kemi vicar Simon Ruuth and followed his father in law as vicar As vicar he managed matters all over the Kemi Lapland area but was not an unusual preacher during his lifetime 1 Rungius served as vicar during the Thirty Years War and died in 1629 As was the custom at the time he was buried underneath the church floor 2 Rungius s reputation grew when his body which had been mummified instead of decomposing was found underneath the church floor during the Greater Wrath in the early 18th century Thus started stories about his powerful words and miracles A legend of sainthood proportions surrounded him and people went as far as to go on pilgrimages to see his body Rungius has been claimed to have said during his life If my words are not true my body will decompose but if they are true it will never decompose 1 The special thing about Rungius s body is that it has not been intentionally protected from decomposition but it has naturally dried up underneath the church floor At least in 1875 the body still retained two arms but one of them has later disappeared It has apparently been taken as a relic 1 The vicar s body is still in the Keminmaa old St Michael Church underneath the floor between the altar and the sacristry protected by glass Visitors may see the mummy during summertime when the church is open for tourists but the corpse may not be photographed 3 References Edit a b c d Vahtola Jouko Rungius Nicolas ca 1560 1629 Online publications of Kansallisbiografia for pay 16 September 1997 Helsinki Finnish Literature Society Keminmaan seurakunta Keminmaan seurakunnan Vanha kirkko Pyhan Mikaelin kirkko Archived from the original on 2011 12 09 Retrieved 2014 10 11 Kirkkoneuvoston paatoksella muumion kuvaaminen on tosin nykyaan kielletty Kaleva 7 12 2010 in Finnish External links EditPrasten vars kropp inte formultnar Archived 2008 10 06 at the Wayback Machine in Swedish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nicolaus Rungius amp oldid 1138745436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
