Archbishop Elia of Helsinki enthroned as Head of Finnish Orthodox Church

The new head of the Finnish Orthodox Church was enthroned on Sunday, 15 December 2024, at the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki.

His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, performed the enthronement of Archbishop Elia of Helsinki.

During the ceremony, Metropolitan Arsenios conveyed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s “paternal wishes and patriarchal blessings” to Archbishop Elia, emphasising his role as the “canonical shepherd” of the Finnish Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Arsenios pronounced the decision of the Holy Synod regarding the appointment, while Archbishop Emeritus Leo delivered a speech of exhortation to the newly installed archbishop. Metropolitan Arsenios also addressed the new Archbishop with words of encouragement and support.

Archbishop Elia of Helsinki and All Finland delivered a profound pastoral and thanksgiving address during his inauguration, emphasising the weight of his new role, his vision for the Church, and the challenges ahead. “A huge responsibility has been placed on my shoulders,” he admitted, adding, “Fear, because I know the weight of this task… Hope, because I do not have to carry this burden alone.”

The Archbishop underscored the Church’s mission to serve society, particularly the marginalised and forgotten, warning against being reduced to mere statistics. “If we remain silent in the face of injustice… we have lost our salt,” he declared, reaffirming the Church’s role as a prophetic voice.

He emphasised unity, cooperation, and humility in ecumenical dialogue, saying, “Genuine connection is not born at coffee tables but in the meeting of hearts.” Addressing ecological responsibility, he warned, “We cannot escape into the beauty of our culture while the world burns,” calling for practical environmental action as integral to the Church’s mission.

As he assumed his role, Archbishop Elia concluded with a call for shared responsibility and faith in divine grace: “God’s love is stronger than any force on earth, and His light shines brightest in the cracks we cannot mend ourselves.”