Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy

The Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy (Italian: Chiesa Evangelica Luterana in Italia, German:
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Italien, abbreviated CELI or ELKI) is a Protestant denomination in the
Lutheran tradition in Italy.

Founded in 1949,[1] the CELI/ELKI, which includes both German- and Italian-speaking communities, is a
member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI) and of the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF).[2]

The first Lutheran community in Italy was formed in Venice in 1650. Within the Austrian-Hungarian
Empire, Lutheran churches were formed in Trieste (1778), Merano (1861) and Bolzano (1889). Under
Prussian influence, communities were formed in Rome (1819), Naples (1826) and Florence (1899). Finally,
German-speaking citizens established churches in Milan (1850), Sanremo (1870) and Genoa (1896).
Lutheranism flourished in Naples and Torre Annunziata thanks to the missionary work of pastor Idelmo
Poggioli. All the aforementioned communities were gathered in the CELI/EKLI since 1949. Other
churches were formed, notably in Catania (1991), Verona (2008) and Turin (2009),[1] under the supervision
of CELI/ELKI, which was a founding member of the FCEI in 1967.[3]

The denomination includes 15 communities, some of which covering entire regions,[4] and about 7,000
baptized members.[5]
The CELI/ELKI allows the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions,[6] in line with other
FCEI denominations.

Gallery of churches

Christ Church, Lutheran Church, Christ Church, Lutheran Church,

Bolzano Florence Merano Trieste

Scola dell'Angelo
Custode, Lutheran
Church, Venice

See also
Religion in Italy
Christianity in Italy
Protestantism in Italy
List of Italian religious minority politicians

References
1. "Che cos'è la CELI" (http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/storia-della-celi/). Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20150614043240/http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/storia-della-celi/) from
the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
2. "Relazioni Ecumeniche" (http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/relazioni-ecumeniche/). Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20150611215851/http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/relazioni-ecu
meniche/) from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
3. "F C e I - Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia - Presidente" (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20160402215954/http://www.fedevangelica.it/index.php/it/struttura/presidenza).
 Archived from the original (http://www.fedevangelica.it/index.php/it/struttura/presidenza) on
2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
4. "Chiesa Evangelica Luterana in Italia" (http://www.chiesaluterana.it/). Archived (https://web.a
rchive.org/web/20150719093140/http://www.chiesaluterana.it/) from the original on 19 July
2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
5. "F C e I - sito web ufficiale della Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia" (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20140821124705/http://www.fedevangelica.it/fcei/fcei041.php). Archived
from the original (http://www.fedevangelica.it/fcei/fcei041.php) on 2014-08-21. Retrieved
2013-04-02.
6. "ChangingAttitude: The Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy says yes to the
blessing of same-sex couples, May 31, 2011" (https://web.archive.org/web/2015072208585
5/http://changingattitude.org.uk/archives/3566). Archived from the original (http://changingatti
tude.org.uk/archives/3566) on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

External links
Official website (http://www.chiesaluterana.it/)

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