Wilhelmi Malmivaara

Wilhelmi Malmivaara.

Wilhelm "Wilhelmi" Malmivaara (until 1900 Malmberg Swedish name, 13. February 1854, Lapua – 12. January 1922, Lapua) was one of the leaders of Finnish Awakening in the beginning of the 20th century. He was also a member of the Parliament of Finland belonging to the Finnish Party in the years 1907–1914 and 1917–1919 (National Coalition Party). He was representative of clergy in the Diet of Finland before Finnish independence in 1897, 1899, 1900 and 1904–05. He was also the member of the synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in 1898, 1908, 1913 and 1918.

Malmivaara was the son of Finnish Awakening movement leader Nils Gustav Malmberg ja Helena Jaakontytär Huhtala. He worked together with Mauno Rosendal and Juho Malkamäki as a leader of the awakening movement and as a vicar (leading pastor) of Lapua parish 1900-1922. Before that assistant pastor in Kiuruvesi (1879–92) and vicar of Paavola (1892–1900). The result of the work of Malmivaara and Malkamäki were awakenings in many places in southern Ostrobothnia and the movement entered a new revival period.

Malmivaara is a notable Finnish hymnwriter who renewed the hymnal of Finnish Awakening Siionin virret. Seven of his texts are included in Siionin virret and three of his texts are used in the hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He also carried out the renewal of the hymnal originally composed by Finnish pastor and revivalist preacher Antti Achrenius. In 1888 Malmivaara founded the periodical of the Finnish Awakening Hengellinen Kuukauslehti.

Regarding alcohol Malmivaara opted for absolutism and introduced it into Finnish Awakening. In 1914 the first folk high school associated with the Awakening started in Lapuas Karhunmäki.

As a preacher, Malmivaara was equal to his father and had a particular capability to touch the hearts of his listeners. His sermons have been published posthumously in two volume collection Viestejä vaivatuille (1927–33), which remains one of the most remarkable achievements in Finland in the field of published sermon literature.

Malmivaara's wife became Karin Rajander. The couple had several children among who several sons became pastors. Malmivaara's descendants are still represented in the Finnish clergy.

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