John (Rinne) of Nicea

The Metropolitan Elder John (Rinne) of Nicea, of a titular see of the Church of Constantinople, was the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland from 1987 to 2001 when he resigned and was transferred by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the honorary post of metropolitan of Nicaea.

Life

Born John Wilho Rinne, Elder John was born in Turku, Finland on August 16, 1923. He pursued his theological education in Finland, New York, England, Greece, and the Soviet Union. He received a doctorate in theology from the Abo Akademi University in Finland in 1966 followed by studies in canon law at the Aristotelian University of Thessalonica in 1971. After graduation he taught theology at a number of high schools and universities in Finland.

In 1967, he was tonsured a monk at the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on the Island of Patmos. Subsequently, he was ordained a deacon and then priest at the patriarchate in Istanbul. On May 26, 1969, Fr. John was consecrated Bishop of Lapland, an auxiliary bishop of the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland. In October 1987, Bp. John was elected Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland, a position he held until he voluntarily resigned in 2001.

Subsequent to his resignation he was given the titular metropolitan see of Nicea by the patriarchate of Constantinople until his repose in Turku, Finland, on July 1, 2010.

Succession box: John (Rinne) of Nicea
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Lapland - auxiliary 1969-1970	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Archbishop of Helsinki 1970-1987	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Paul (Olmari)	Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland 1987-2001	Succeeded by: Leo (Makkonen)
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Nicea Church of Constantinople (retired) 2001-2010	Succeeded by: —

Help with box

Sources

• Ec=patr: Elder John of Nicea In Greek
• OCA: In Memoriam