Gregorius Favorinus

Gregorius Matthiae Favorinus ( – 1660) was a Finnish land provost and Bible translator.

Favorinus was born in Tyrväntö, Tavastia to a farmer family. He studied priest and served in military, until he returned to Finland and became vicar.

Favorinus took part in Finnish Bible translation of 1642 edition.

Early career
Favorius was born in Siukola house, Suotaala, Tyrväntö in the 1590s, close to year 1600. His father was farmer Matti Niilonpoika (Matts Nilsson in Swedish sources). Favorinus studied in Turku Cathedral School.

Jacob De la Gardie called him to work as regiment pastor in Riga in 1624. Depending on sources, he served in military for four years, or returned in Finland already in the following year with regiment of Nils Assersson Mannersköld and followed Paulus Johannis Paulinus as interim vicar of Hattula during years 1625–1627. Favorinus worked as chaplain in the Turku Cathedral Finnish-speaking parish in 1628–1632. In 1633 he became vicar of Piikkiö; he was possibly appointed formally already in 1631.

Bible translation
Favorinus was called to participate in Aeschillus Petraeus's Bible translation committee in April 1638. His versatile knowledge of Finnish language was valued, as the objective was to write Bible in "pure and universally understandable Finnish". The other members were professor Martinus Stodius and Masku provost Henrik Hoffman. Presumably Tavastian-born Favorinus diversified the language among Stodius and Hoffman, who were from Finland Proper. Each member of committee translated certain parts, which were reviewed in meetings. It is not known who translated what. The Old Testament was finished in 1640, after which it was printed in Stockholm. The New Testament followed in 1641 and the project was completed in the following year; "the most humble subjects" Petraeus, Hoffman, Strodius and Favorinus dedicated their foreword to queen Christina dated on 20 July 1642.

Each member of committee were granted by 30 unbound copies of Bible and tax reliefs; in case of Favorinus the latter one meant tax exemption to his property in Saari village in Paimio. Moreover, he got 100 silver thalers for travel expenses and he was appointed provost.

Other work
Favorinus took part in opening of Royal Academy of Turku in 1640. After the Bible translation project, Favorinus and Stodius helped Petraeus at writing Finnish grammar book which was issued in 1649. Favorinus's dissertation was dedicated in Turku on 24 November 1649. He translated Johan Avenarius's prayer book, which was, however, not published due to lack of funds.

Late years
Favorinus was appointed vicar and land provost of Hattula in 1651. Besides the church's work, he had to resolve disputes between nobility and clergy in Janakkala. Some records of Favorinus's visitations in Janakkala, Loppi, Sahalahti and Vanaja parishes in spring and autumn 1659 have survived.

Favorinus died in spring 1660; he is mentioned deceased on a document dated on 25 May 1660.

Family
Favorinus was married twice. His first wife was Aliza Jakobsdotter was mentioned in 1634; she was in her second marriage. The second wife was Brita, whose background is unknown; she lived as widow after Favorinus died. Favorinus had two sons: Johan (1633–1672) worked as vicar in Hämeenkyrö and Erik (died 1712) was vicar of Loppi.