Beginnings of Christianity
Christian influences from both East and West reached Finland around the year 1000. Missionary efforts on the part of the Western church were, however, stronger, and by the beginning of the 14th century most of Finland was under the Roman Catholic Church and Swedish rule. The Catholic Church brought European civilisation to Finland. It united dispersed tribes into a single nation and provided an advanced system of administration. Eastern parts of Finland remained predominantly Greek Orthodox.
updated by Kimmo Ketola