Eivind studied
theology in
Oslo at what was then the
University of Kristiania beginning in 1903, and continued family tradition by becoming a
priest in the
Church of Norway. He changed his surname to that of his paternal grandmother's family: to Jensen Berggrav in 1907 and a decade later to simply Berggrav. Upon graduating from the university in 1908, Jensen Berggrav taught school for a decade (at the
Eidsvoll folkehøgskole,
Holmestrand offentlige lærerskole and
Akershus fylkesskole). He also started writing for the journal,
Kirke i Kultur, which Berggrav continued to do intermittently for decades, until his death. During World War I Berggrav filed some stories as a war correspondent for the
Morgenbladet, Norway's largest newspaper. Berggrav also became involved with the political party and the youth movement with
Alf Frydenberg. Both social movements sought to incorporate the language spoken in eastern Norway into the national written language. (See
Norwegian language conflict). Berggrav eventually was called as a parish priest in
Hurdal, and he continued to study for his doctorate in theology at the university. In the three years after he received it in 1924, Rev. Berggrav also served as chaplain of
Botsfengselet national prison in Oslo. In 1928 Berggrav was selected as bishop for the
Diocese of Hålogaland based at
Tromsø. He dedicated a number of new chapels as he served the largely rural diocese until 1937. In that year, although younger than many other candidates, Berggrav was selected bishop for the
Diocese of Oslo, which although the first among equals, remains the highest position in Norway's national church. The funeral of Queen
Maud the following year first brought Berggrav international attention. Except technically during his house arrest during 1942-1945 as discussed below, Berggrav continued to serve as bishop of Oslo and Preses of the Church of Norway until 1951. ==Resistance leader==