Johannes Smemo

Johannes Smemo (31 July 1898 – 7 March 1973) was a Norwegian theologian, psalmist, and a long-time bishop in the Church of Norway. Theologically, he was a conservative, confessional Lutheran priest who lived during the time of great liberal-conservative debates within the Church of Norway.

Personal life Smemo was born on 31 July 1898 at Rugldalen in Røros Municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. He was born to a railroad foreman John Smemo and teacher Mali Grytbak. He grew up in Åsen Municipality. In 1929, he married Marie (“Bissen”) Bjønness-Jacobsen, the daughter of Mikkel Bjønness-Jacobsen. Smemo is the father-in-law of Paul Thyness. He died in Oslo, Norway on 7 March 1973 and he is buried at the Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.

After the war in 1946, he was appointed to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Agder. He held that position at the Kristiansand Cathedral until 1951 when he was appointed to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Oslo. He also chaired the psalm commission of the Church of Norway from 1954 to 1968. As Bishop of Oslo, he officiated at the funerals for Crown Princess Märtha (in 1954) and King Haakon VII (in 1957), both at the Oslo Cathedral. He also gave the sermon at the consecration ceremony for the new King Olav V in 1958 at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Smemo remained Bishop of Oslo from 1951 until his retirement in 1968.

Works Bishop Smemo wrote several theological books during his time as priest, seminary rector, and bishop. He also wrote and translated several books of psalms and hymns, and he was part of the commission that edited the Church of Norway hymnbook that was presented in the 1960s. (1926) (1938) (1940) (1954) (1954) (1964) (1965) (1967)