Kārlis Gailītis

Kārlis Gailītis (3 March 1936 - Sabile, 22 November 1992) was a Latvian Lutheran Archbishop. He was the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, from 1989 to 1992, when he died in a car accident.

The Most Reverend

Kārlis Gailītis
Archbishop of Riga
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Riga
Elected12 April 1989
In office1989-1992
PredecessorĒriks Mesters
SuccessorJānis Vanags
Orders
Ordination1976
Consecration3 September 1989
Personal details
Born(1936-03-03)March 3, 1936
Latvia
Died(1992-11-22)November 22, 1992
Sabile, Latvia
DenominationEvangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
OccupationLutheran Archbishop

Life and career

Gailītis was born in a family of teachers. He studied at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, from 1971 to 1976. In September 1976, he was ordained a pastor. He started working afterwards at the Luther Church, in Riga, where he would serve until his election as archbishop. He worked as Secretary of the Consistory from 1981. In 1986, he obtained a master's degree in theology. He was a professor of comparative religion in the Theological Seminary for several years.

Gailītis was involved in the "revival and renewal" in the final years of the Soviet Union. He was elected archbishop at the XIV Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, at 12 April 1989, in Riga. He witnessed the final years of the Soviet Union as Latvia struggled for independence in 1991. In April 1992, he was reelected archbishop, at the XV Synod. He died in a car accident on 22 November 1992.[1]

References
  1. Kārlis Gailītis Biography (Latvian)
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