In Hungary and Transvylvannia there were Sabbatarians found among the Unitarians around the year 1571. In 1635 they were forced to join with the major denominations or lose life and property. In Scandinavia, Sabbath observance was outlawed as being Jewish and heathen. A letter from Norwegian diplomats in 1435 read, “We fully agreed and resolved that in harmony with the laws of the holy church, observance of the Saturday must under no circumstance be allowed hereafter unless the church canon so decrees it. We therefore counsel all the friends of God, the Christians in Norway, those who will remain obedient to God’s holy church, to refrain from this great evil habit of Saturday observance, as mentioned. But other obstinate, those who persist in this custom, we forbid under the severe penalty of the holy church to keep that day as a holy day from now on; but should there be any who for Godfearing reasons wish to do good on that day instead of on another, then he shall fast or contribute to his cathedral, cloister and honorable men by willingly giving alms from his catch which he rightly has made on the Saturday, or from any other types of work” (Diplomatarium Norvegicum, ed., by C.R. Unger and H.Jj. Huitfeld, vol. 7 [Christiania: P.T. Mallings, 1867), no. 397, p. 391).
Sabbath Observed in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia
