Difference between revisions of "Church of Finland"
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− | The '''Church of Finland''' | + | The '''Church of Finland''' is an [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox church whose [[primate]] is confirmed by the [[Church of Constantinople]]. It is the second official state church of Finland, beside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. |
== History == | == History == | ||
− | Orthodox Christianity | + | Orthodox Christianity was introduced to Finland during Russian rule in the 19th century. In Helsinki, Viipuri and the Karelian Isthmus, Orthodoxy was associated with the country's ruling elite. However, many rural Finns, Sami and Karelians were also members of the [[Orthodox Church]]. |
− | Shortly after Finland declared independence from Russia | + | 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 liturgical language from [[Church Slavonic]] to Finnish 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 | + | 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]] | + | [[Valaam Monastery|Valaam]] was evacuated in 1940 and the monastery of [[New Valaam Monastery|New Valaam]] was founded in 1941 at Heinävesi. Later, the monks from Konevitsa and Petsamo monasteries also joined the 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. |
== Finnish Orthodoxy Today == | == Finnish Orthodoxy Today == | ||
− | To this day, Orthodoxy | + | To this day, Orthodoxy is practiced mostly by Russians, Karelians and the Sami (Koltta Tribe), although it has shed the image of the privileged class with which it was once associated. The Church of Finland has about 60,000 members. In recent decades, the membership has been steadily growing. |
− | Its current primate | + | Its current primate is His Eminence [[Leo (Makkonen) of Finland|Leo]], Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland. |
==Church structure== | ==Church structure== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.ort.fi/ The Church of Finland] (Official site) | *[http://www.ort.fi/ The Church of Finland] (Official site) | ||
− | *[http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/ortodeng.html Finnish | + | *[http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/ortodeng.html Finnish Orthodox Church - Virtual Finland] (Written for Virtual Finland by Archbishop Leo) |
*[http://www.valaam.ru/en/ Valaam Monastery] | *[http://www.valaam.ru/en/ Valaam Monastery] | ||
*[http://www.valamo.fi/index.php New Valaam Monastery] | *[http://www.valamo.fi/index.php New Valaam Monastery] | ||
*[http://www.pyykkonen.net/ortodoksit/kirkko St. Nicholas Virtual Church of Joensuu, Finland] (in English) | *[http://www.pyykkonen.net/ortodoksit/kirkko St. Nicholas Virtual Church of Joensuu, Finland] (in English) | ||
− | *[http://www.ortodoksi.net Ortodoksi.net] (Orthodoxy in Finland, | + | *[http://www.ortodoksi.net Ortodoksi.net] (Orthodoxy in Finland, in Finnish, slightly in English) |
[[Category:Jurisdictions]] | [[Category:Jurisdictions]] |
Revision as of 12:07, April 21, 2005
The Church of Finland is an autonomous Orthodox church whose primate is confirmed by the Church of Constantinople. It is the second official state church of Finland, beside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
History
Orthodox Christianity was introduced to Finland during Russian rule in the 19th century. In Helsinki, Viipuri and the Karelian Isthmus, Orthodoxy was associated with the country's ruling elite. However, many rural Finns, Sami and Karelians were also members of the Orthodox Church.
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 or Old Church calendar. Other reforms introduced after independence include changing the liturgical language from Church Slavonic to Finnish 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 was evacuated in 1940 and the monastery of New Valaam was founded in 1941 at Heinävesi. Later, the monks from Konevitsa and Petsamo monasteries also joined the 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.
Finnish Orthodoxy Today
To this day, Orthodoxy is practiced mostly by Russians, Karelians and the Sami (Koltta Tribe), although it has shed the image of the privileged class with which it was once associated. The Church of Finland has about 60,000 members. In recent decades, the membership has been steadily growing.
Its current primate is His Eminence Leo, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland.
Church structure
Within the one autonomous Church of Finland, there are three metropolia:
- Metropolis of Helsinki
- Metropolis of Karelia
- Metropolis of Oulu
External links
- The Church of Finland (Official site)
- Finnish Orthodox Church - Virtual Finland (Written for Virtual Finland by Archbishop Leo)
- Valaam Monastery
- New Valaam Monastery
- St. Nicholas Virtual Church of Joensuu, Finland (in English)
- Ortodoksi.net (Orthodoxy in Finland, in Finnish, slightly in English)