New primate of Finnish Church announced
Metropolitan Elias. Photo: www.ort.fi/ru
On November 28, 2024, during the Local Council of the Finnish Orthodox Church, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a new primate was elected.
Metropolitan Elias (Wallgren) was elected as the new head of the Church, receiving 24 votes. His opponent, Bishop Serge (Rajapolvi), received 9 votes, while two ballots were left blank.
Before the voting, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in the Valamo Monastery (Heinävesi). The election was presided over by Archbishop Leo, who had led the Finnish Church for many years.
The newly elected Metropolitan Elias will travel to Istanbul on November 29 to attend the session of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on December 1. The Synod is expected to officially confirm his candidacy for the position of primate.
Once approved by the Ecumenical Synod, Metropolitan Elias will be officially enthroned as Archbishop of Helsinki and All Finland. The enthronement ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 15 at the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki.
Read also
In Chernivtsi, patronal feast of Holy Spirit Cathedral celebrated
On the Feast of the Holy Spirit, the festive Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Chernivtsi was led by Metropolitan Meletiy, concelebrating with bishops and clergy.
In Kyiv, Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh damaged by shelling
In Kyiv’s Solomianskyi District, shelling shattered the windows of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh and several parish buildings. No casualties were reported.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews paralyze traffic in Israel over arrest of draft evaders
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked highways and railway tracks, demanding an end to the arrest of those refusing military service.
Patronal feast celebrated at Kherson cathedral damaged by shelling
Because of damage caused by Russian shelling, the festal Liturgy on the Day of the Holy Spirit was celebrated for the first time in the lower church of the Kherson Eparchy’s cathedral.
Kremenchuk Eparchy comments on situation around Holy Trinity Cathedral
The UOC emphasized that any disputes regarding the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kremenchuk should be resolved exclusively within the legal framework.
4,000 faithful celebrate patronal feast of Holy Spirit Skete of Pochaiv Lavra
The celebration of the Day of the Holy Spirit brought together pilgrims from across Ukraine at the skete of Pochaiv Lavra.