Finnish Orthodox community celebrates Easter a week later after break with church

The Finnish Orthodox Church has severed ties with the Panagia Centre in Lammi, southern Finland, over disputes regarding baptism and the liturgical calendar, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The centre, run by the Athos Foundation, follows the Julian calendar and traditional baptism practices that differ from the church’s official position. As a result, no priests will conduct services there, including Easter celebrations, which the community will observe a week later than the rest of Finland.

The Panagia Centre’s director, Hannu Pöyhönen, described the situation as “sorrowful” but said the decision would have little practical impact. “Mostly, it affects our public image,” he told Yle. The centre, home to around 30 people, adheres to older Orthodox traditions, including the Julian calendar, which places Easter on April 14 this year—one week after Finland’s Gregorian calendar date.

Theological secretary Jelisei Heikkilä of the Orthodox Archdiocese confirmed that the dispute stems from long-standing disagreements. “We have not agreed on these matters, and their direction has not been accepted,” he said. The church accuses the centre of undermining unity, while Panagia maintains it is preserving authentic traditions.

Without a priest, the community will hold a lay-led Easter service. The centre’s residents will still gather for a shared Easter meal on the Julian calendar date.

The Panagia Centre operates in a former rehabilitation facility in Lammi. While the Athos Foundation is independent, its residents remain members of the Finnish Orthodox Church. The church has not sent priests to conduct services there for some time, citing the lack of a bishop-consecrated antimins—a liturgical cloth required for the Eucharist.

Pöyhönen expressed hope that the centre could one day establish monasteries for men and women in the spirit of Mount Athos. “We want to keep the church on traditional lines, as it has always been in monasteries,” he said. “We hope there is still room for these traditions in our time.”

The Finnish Orthodox Church has not previously faced a similar conflict with a community of this size. While it recognises baptisms from other Christian denominations, Panagia does not, further deepening the divide.