Tito Colliander

The recorded working language is Swedish. The field of work recorded is creative and professional writing, Eastern Orthodox theology and icon. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are essay, autobiography, poetry and religious. Places of work recorded in the authority are Helsinki and Porvoo. Distinctions recorded are Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, Samfundet De Nio's Grand Prize, Karl Emil Tollander Prize and Swedish Academy Finland Prize.

• Name — Tito Fritiof Colliander • Born — 10 February 1904 • Birthplace — Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire • Died — 21 May 1989 • Place of death — Helsinki, Finland • Occupation — theologian, novelist, teacher • Period — 1930–1989 • Genre — Romance, Memoir

Colliander was born in St. Petersburg, the son of Colonel Sigfried Joakim Colliander and his wife Dagmar Ilmatar Constance, née von Schoultz. Colliander received an artistic education at the Finnish Art Society's drawing school from 1921 to 1923, and worked as a drawing teacher at the Swedish Girls' School in Porvoo from 1923 to 1928. His wife, Ina Behrsen, whom he married in 1930, was also an artist, and his son Sergius became an Orthodox priest. Beginning in the 1930s, Colliander published a number of novels and short stories that made him famous. His books were written under the strong influence of Dostoyevsky's frequent themes of guilt and searching for faith in the modern world. His novels Crusade (Korståget), Mercy (Förbarma dig) and others were translated into foreign languages. Colliander was one of the contributors of Garm, a Swedish language satirical magazine based in Helsinki. Colliander and his wife Ina converted to Orthodoxy, and the writer attended the Orthodox seminary from 1949 to 1953. From 1950 to 1969, he was a teacher of the Orthodox religion in Helsinki's Swedish-speaking secondary schools. His most famous book, The Way of the Ascetics (Asketernas väg), was first published in Swedish. The English translation, The Way of the Ascetics, went through several editions. He also wrote a memoir of life in Tsarist Russia and Finland in a pre-war book about Ilya Repin. He died on 21 May 1989 and is buried at the Orthodox cemetery in Helsinki near Lapinlahti.

• En vandrare (A Wanderer), 1930, short stories • Korståget (The Crusade), 1937, novel • Förbarma dig (Have Mercy), 1939, novel • Dagen är (The Day Is), 1940, poems • Ilja Repin. En konstnär från Ukraina (Ilya Repin: An Artist from Ukraine), 1942, biography • Grottan (The Cave), 1942, novel • Asketernas väg (The Way of the Ascetics), 1952 • Bevarat (Preserved), 1964, memoir • Gripen (The Griffin), 1965, memoir • Vidare (Further), 1967, memoir • Nära (Near), 1971, memoir • Måltid (Meal), 1973, memoir • (with Pertti Hietanen) Nya Valamo (New Valamo), 1974, text for photo book

The authorities additionally record the heading Tito Fritiof Colliander. His recorded language was Swedish. His recorded confession was Eastern Orthodoxy. He married Ina Colliander. Other recorded relations include Baba Lybeck.

Tito Colliander worked in creative and professional writing, Eastern Orthodox theology and icon. He worked at Helsinki and Porvoo.

Tito Colliander is recorded as having received Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, Samfundet De Nio's Grand Prize and Karl Emil Tollander Prize.