Vreta’s monastic history in mini-format

In 2010 we can be certain that the monastery foundation lies 900 years back in time. It was King Inge the Elder who on his own and his queen Helena’s behalf in an undated letter solemnly proclaimed the birth of the monastery: "Hic Rex Ingo cum sua consorte Regina Helena fundaverunt monasterium Wretam et dederunt ad illud monasterium… / Here King Inge together with his consort Queen Helena founded the monastery of Vreta and donated to this monastery…". These words cannot have been pronounced later than 1110, since the king died in that year. For that reason, the 900-year anniversary will be celebrated in 2010.

The monastery founded in Vreta was the first in the country we now call Sweden.

During the earliest decades the monastery may have been a Benedictine foundation, but some scholars are of the opinion that it was a conventual community for the priests associated with the bishop who was probably based in Vreta at that time.

A large donation from King Karl Sverkersson in 1162 initiated a new era for the monastery and we know that at least by that time it was nuns who were active there. Some time after that, the convent was affiliated to the Cistercian Order.

For several centuries Vreta was considered the finest nunnery in the country. It gave rise to three affiliated convents: Askeby, Riseberga and Solberga.

As a result of the Reformation (Swedish ruling in 1527) monastic activity in Vreta was successively choked off and finally ceased when the last two nuns died in 1582.

The dilapidated buildings were torn down and covered over in the 18 th century but were unearthed in 1916-26. The ruins underwent a restoration in 2002-2007.

The 900-year-old abbey church – Sancta Maria de Vretis – is preserved largely as it has been since the late 12th century. It has had an unbroken tradition as a living church over all these years and is today the parish church of Vreta Kloster parish, which belongs to the Church of Sweden.