Archbishop Leo set to retire from Finnish Orthodox Church in November

In November, the Finnish Orthodox Church will face a significant leadership change as Archbishop Leo, who has led the church since 2001, is set to retire. A successor must be chosen, with the requirement that the new archbishop be an unmarried man, although no other strict criteria exist.

Theological secretary Jelisei Heikkilä stated that, in theory, a layperson could be elected as bishop, but traditionally, candidates come from among those who have received priestly ordination and theological training. Potential candidates include Metropolitan Arseni, Bishop of Kuopio and Karelia; Metropolitan Elia, Bishop of Oulu; and Bishop Sergei, the assistant bishop of Helsinki. Bishop Sergei has expressed his willingness to serve, while Metropolitan Arseni is still considering his stance. Metropolitan Elia has refrained from revealing his views, stating he has contemplated the matter but is not ready to comment.

The nomination of candidates will take place at the ecclesiastical assembly in Valamo at the end of November. This assembly will consist not only of bishops but also eleven representatives of the clergy, three representatives of cantors, and thirteen laypeople. The assembly will propose candidates for archbishop, from which a bishops’ synod will make the final selection. Traditionally, three candidates are put forward, and the selection of the archbishop will occur through voting.

The appointment must also be confirmed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, a requirement that underscores the significance of this decision within the church’s structure. The new archbishop will be consecrated on December 15.

There is no mandatory retirement age for the archbishop, and the current Archbishop Leo is 76 years old. His tenure has also been marked by recent controversies related to an organization he previously led, concerning its financial difficulties. Leo has not addressed this issue directly but has indicated his retirement is for personal reasons.