About Jaan Kiivit
Jaan Kiivit, 65, Estonian Lutheran archbishop.
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Full Biography
|Jaan Kiivit Jr. (19 February 1940 – 31 August 2005) was the Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1994 until 2005.
Biography
Jaan Kiivit was born on 19 February 1940 in Rakvere in Estonia in the family of the priest and later the archbishop Jaan Kiivit Sr. In 1959 he graduated from the secondary school and began his studies at the Theological Institute of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1964 he was appointed a curate at the church of the Holy Ghost and as the parish priest the following year. Jaan Kiivit was ordained in 1966 and he worked as a pastor of the Holy Ghost Church until 1994. In 1980 he became deputy member of the Consistory and in 1986 he became an assessor. In 1990 he was a member of the Consistory Board. Jaan Kiivit Jr was elected archbishop of Tallinn and of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church the Estonian Evangelical Church archbishop in 1994.
Between 1978 and 1994 Jaan Kiivit was a lecturer of practical theology at the Theological Institute in Tallinn, 1989-1991 he worked as an Institute curator, 1991–1992 as the rector. In 1990 and 1991 Jaan Kiivit was the representative of the EELC in the working group for reopening the Faculty of Theology at the University of Tartu. 1989–1994 he co-ordinates the cooperation between the Estonian Lutheran Church and the North Elbian Church. From 1992 he was chairman of the Foreign Relations Council of the EELC.
He has represented the EELC in many international conferences. He took part in the Eighth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Curitiba (1990) as an official visitor. He was the EELC delegate of the Ninth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Hong Kong (1997). Archbishop Jaan Kiivit was the first Estonian to be elected as member of the LWF Council. In 1994 he became a member of the Presidium of the Leuenberg Concordia Executive Committee. Archbishop Kiivit was a co-chairman of the joint commission of Estonian Government and EELC since it was established in 1995. He was a curator of the University of Tartu. In 1997 Jaan Kiivit received an honorary degree (Dr.h.c.) from the Helsinki University and in 1998 Dr.h.c. from the Suomi College in USA. In 2001 he received the 2nd class order of the White Star from the President of the Estonian Republic.
Kiivit translated theological and religious books and articles from Greek, German and Finnish. He published study materials for the Theological Institute and a collection of sermons. Kiivit was married for 43 years to Sirje Kiivit (Henno) (1941–2014). They had three daughters. Archbishop Kiivit died on 31 August 2005 while visiting St Petersburg, Russia.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaan_Kiivit_Jr.
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jaan Kiivit's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was Jaan Kiivit Jr. born?
- A.Tartu
- B.St Petersburg
- C.Rakverecorrect
- D.Tallinn
Jaan Kiivit Jr. was born on 19 February 1940 in the town of Rakvere in Estonia.
Source: Biography introduction
2.What was the name of the organization where Jaan Kiivit Jr. served as archbishop from 1994 to 2005?
- A.The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Churchcorrect
- B.The North Elbian Church
- C.The Helsinki Theological Institute
- D.The Suomi College Lutheran Synod
Jaan Kiivit Jr. served as the Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1994 until 2005.
Source: Biography introduction
3.In what year was Jaan Kiivit Jr. ordained?
- A.1986
- B.1964
- C.1966correct
- D.1959
Jaan Kiivit Jr. was ordained as a pastor in 1966.
Source: Biography section
4.Who was the wife of Jaan Kiivit Jr.?
- A.Elena Kiivit
- B.Maria Kiivit
- C.Sirje Kiivitcorrect
- D.Anna Kiivit
Jaan Kiivit Jr. was married for 43 years to Sirje Kiivit (Henno).
Source: Biography section
5.In which year did Jaan Kiivit Jr. serve as the rector of the Theological Institute?
- A.1994–1995
- B.1980–1981
- C.1989–1990
- D.1991–1992correct
Jaan Kiivit Jr. worked as the rector of the Theological Institute from 1991 to 1992.
Source: Biography section
6.Jaan Kiivit Jr. translated theological and religious works from which of the following languages?
- A.Latin, Russian, and Estonian
- B.Danish, Hebrew, and Italian
- C.Greek, German, and Finnishcorrect
- D.English, Swedish, and French
Jaan Kiivit Jr. translated theological and religious books and articles from Greek, German and Finnish.
Source: Biography section
7.What award did Jaan Kiivit Jr. receive from the President of the Estonian Republic in 2001?
- A.Grand Cross of the Estonian Republic
- B.Medal of Merit for Theology
- C.Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
- D.2nd class order of the White Starcorrect
In 2001, Jaan Kiivit Jr. received the 2nd class order of the White Star from the President of the Estonian Republic.
Source: Biography section
8.Where did Jaan Kiivit Jr. pass away?
- A.Tallinn, Estonia
- B.St Petersburg, Russiacorrect
- C.Hong Kong, China
- D.Helsinki, Finland
Archbishop Jaan Kiivit Jr. died on 31 August 2005 while visiting St Petersburg, Russia.
Source: Biography section
9.How many daughters did Jaan Kiivit Jr. and his wife have?
- A.Threecorrect
- B.One
- C.Four
- D.Two
Jaan Kiivit Jr. and Sirje Kiivit had three daughters.
Source: Biography section
10.Which university awarded Jaan Kiivit Jr. an honorary degree in 1997?
- A.Suomi College
- B.Tallinn University
- C.Helsinki Universitycorrect
- D.University of Tartu
In 1997, Jaan Kiivit Jr. received an honorary degree (Dr.h.c.) from the Helsinki University.
Source: Biography section
11.Jaan Kiivit Jr. represented the EELC as an official visitor at which Lutheran World Federation Assembly?
- A.Ninth Assembly in Hong Kong
- B.Seventh Assembly in Budapest
- C.Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg
- D.Eighth Assembly in Curitibacorrect
Jaan Kiivit Jr. took part in the Eighth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Curitiba in 1990 as an official visitor.
Source: Biography section
12.In what year did Jaan Kiivit Jr. become a member of the Consistory Board?
- A.1990correct
- B.1980
- C.1994
- D.1986
Jaan Kiivit Jr. was a member of the Consistory Board in 1990.
Source: Biography section
13.What role did Jaan Kiivit Jr. hold regarding the joint commission of the Estonian Government and EELC starting in 1995?
- A.Legal advisor
- B.Secretary
- C.Co-chairmancorrect
- D.Chief researcher
Archbishop Jaan Kiivit Jr. was a co-chairman of the joint commission of the Estonian Government and EELC since it was established in 1995.
Source: Biography section
14.Before becoming archbishop, for which church did Jaan Kiivit Jr. work as a pastor until 1994?
- A.Tallinn Lutheran Church
- B.St. John's Church
- C.St. Mary's Cathedral
- D.Holy Ghost Churchcorrect
Jaan Kiivit Jr. worked as a pastor of the Holy Ghost Church until 1994.
Source: Biography section
15.Which institution did Jaan Kiivit Jr. start attending in 1959 after graduating from secondary school?
- A.University of Tartu
- B.Helsinki Theological Seminary
- C.Theological Institute of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Churchcorrect
- D.St Petersburg Academy of Theology
In 1959, Jaan Kiivit Jr. graduated from secondary school and began his studies at the Theological Institute of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Source: Biography section
16.What specific distinction was Jaan Kiivit Jr. the first Estonian to achieve?
- A.Chairman of the Foreign Relations Council
- B.Elected member of the LWF Councilcorrect
- C.Rector of the Theological Institute
- D.Archbishop of the EELC
Archbishop Jaan Kiivit Jr. was the first Estonian to be elected as a member of the Lutheran World Federation Council.
Source: Biography section
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