Changes

The Orthodox faith was the earliest form of Christianity to arrive in Finland. It spread to southern Finland and to the people of Karelia around Lake Ladoga through trade and other contacts with the East over 1,000 years ago. The founding of monasteries on the islands of Lake Ladoga contributed significantly to the spreading and establishment of the Orthodox faith in eastern Finland. The monasteries were important [[missionary ]] centres.

Shortly after After the Grand Duchy of Finland declared independence from Russia was formed under Russian rule during the early nineteenth century the Orthodox believers in 1917, Finland were placed under the Finnish Orthodox Church declared its [[autonomyjurisdiction]] from of the [[Church Eparchy of RussiaSt. Petersburg]]. In 19231892, the Finnish Church completely separated from the Russian Church, becoming an autonomous part of the [[Church of Constantinople]]. The [[New Calendar]] Finland was also adopted, including the Gregorian established as a separate diocese with its bishop's [[Paschalionsee]]in Vyborg, making it distinct separate from the rest Eparchy of the Orthodox churches, whether following the St.Petersburg. [[New CalendarAnthony (Vadkovsky) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga|NewAbp. Anthony (Vadkovsky)]] or was [[Old Calendarenthronement|Old]] [[Church calendarenthroned]]. Other reforms introduced after independence include changing as the primary liturgical language from [[Church Slavonic]] to Finnish (also other languages are used depending on parish and situation, e.g. Church Slavonic, Swedish, English) and the transfer of the Archepiscopal seat from the multicultural city of Viipuri to the Finnish speaking city of Sortavaladiocese's first ruling hierarch.

Shortly after Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, the Finnish Orthodox Church declared its [[autonomy]] from the [[Church of Russia]]. In 1923, the Finnish Church completely separated from the Russian Church, becoming an autonomous part of the [[Church of Constantinople]]. The [[New Calendar]] was also adopted, including the Gregorian [[Paschalion]], making it distinct from the rest of the Orthodox churches, whether following the [[New Calendar|New]] or [[Old Calendar|Old]] [[Church calendar]]. Other reforms introduced after independence include changing the primary liturgical language from [[Church Slavonic]] to Finnish (also other languages are used depending on [[parish]] and situation, e.g. Church Slavonic, Swedish, English) and the transfer of the Archepiscopal seat from the multicultural city of Viipuri to the Finnish speaking city of Sortavala. Until World War II, the majority of the Orthodox Christians in Finland were in Karelia. As a consequence of the war, many residents of that border province evacuated to other parts of the country. The [[monastery ]] of[[Valaam Monastery|Valaam]] was evacuated in 1940 and the monastery of [[New Valamo|New Valaam ]] was founded in 1941 at Heinävesi. Later, the monks from Konevitsa and Petsamo monasteries also joined the [[New Valamo|New Valaam]] monastery. The nunnery of Lintula at Kivennapa (Karelian Isthmus) was also evacuated, and re-established at Heinävesi in 1946. A new parish network was established, and many new churches were built in the 1950s. After the city of Viipuri was lost to the Soviet Union, its Diocesan seat was moved to Helsinki. A third Diocese was established at Oulu in 1979.