Helsinki, December 17, 2024
The newly enthroned Abp. Leo of Helsinki is in the middle. Photo: ort.fu
The Finnish Orthodox Church, an autonomous body within the Patriarchate of Constantinople, installed its new primate over the weekend.
The former primate, Archbishop Leo, announced his retirement 
Archbishop Leo of Finland to retire by the end of the yearThe election of a new primate will be included in the agenda of the Local Council to be held at New Valaam Monastery in late November.
“>in May, and 
Finnish Church elects new primateThe autonomous Finnish Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople elected a new primate yesterday.”>last month, the Local Council of the Finnish Church elected Metropolitan Ilia of Oulu as its next lead bishop.
The installation on Sunday, December 15, in Helsinki’s Holy Dormition Cathedral, was led by Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, reports the Finnish Church.
For the Divine Liturgy, Abp. Ilia and Met. Arsenios were joined by various Constantinople hierarchs, representing the Finnish Church, the Estonian Apostolic Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, the Patriarchate’s Western European dioceses, and the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” the latter of which is recognized as schismatic by the Orthodox world.
Following the service, on behalf of the Finnish Church, Archpriest Mikko Sidoroff presented the newly enthroned Abp. Ilia with a pectoral cross, an episcopal Panagia, and an engolpion with an icon of Christ.
Photo: ort.fi
In his address, Met. Arsenios of Austria conveyed the greetings and blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and exhorted:
As a canonical shepherd and protector, you are called to bring genuine light to all, the light of Christ, which enlightens and illuminates every person who comes into the world. You are called to testify to Orthodox ethics, the spirit of dialogue, mutual respect, genuine love and respect for every human person, as your predecessors did worthily.
Abp. Ilia’s predecessor, Abp. Leo, also exhorted him:
Having served my beloved Church for more than fifty years, I have understood its three main pillars upon which our church stands. It must be on the side of people, prudence, and cooperation. And if you demand something from others, demand it first from yourself, whether it concerns the ethical and moral aspect in a person or everything else in human relationships.
And in his address, Abp. Ilia reflected on his appointment to leadership, expressing both fear due to the weight of responsibility and hope because he knows he won’t carry this burden alone. He acknowledges his own unworthiness while emphasizing his trust in God who has led him to this moment, drawing on the Apostle John’s metaphor of the fruitless tree and St. Paul’s detailing of the fruits of the Spirit.
He then addresses contemporary challenges, particularly highlighting the Church’s moral obligation to speak out about suffering children, especially those displaced by war in Ukraine. He emphasizes that the Church cannot be selective in condemning violence and must raise its voice wherever innocent children become victims.
The address concludes with a vision of the Church’s role in modern society, particularly emphasizing environmental responsibility and prophetic witness. The Archbishop stresses that the Orthodox tradition is not a museum piece but a transformative force that must engage with contemporary issues. He acknowledges that while it would be easier to remain silent and hide in liturgical beauty, the Church must boldly challenge those in authority and stand with the oppressed.
Abp. Ilia also announces his intention to draw closer to the [schismatic] OCU, and Constantinople’s new Lithuanian Exarchate, which is largely a home for clergy who were suspended or defrocked by the Moscow Patriarchate.
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