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The former abbot of Valaam Monastery, Archimandrite Sergei Rayapolvi, became the first bishop ordained at Helsinki’s Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral since 1969.
The Divine Liturgy and the ordination were celebrated on Sunday, January 16, 2022, by Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland, Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia, and Metropolitan Elia of Oulu.
Father Markku Salminen, Dean of Helsinki, clergy and faithful also attended, according to basilica.ro.
Assistant Bishop Sergei of Hamina was born in 1965. He graduated from Kuopio Orthodox Seminary and served as a military chaplain from 1988 to 1989 during his military service. In 1990, he graduated from Joensuu University with a degree in teaching the foundations of the faith.
In the same year, he became a novice at Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour (Heinävesi, Southern Savo). He became a rasophore in 1991, and in 1992 he received the monastic tonsure. He became a hieromonk in 1995. In 1997, he was elected abbot of Valaam Monastery.
The new assistant bishop to the Metropolis of Helsinki bears the title of Bishop of Hamina and will reside in Helsinki.The Orthodox Church of Finland is an autonomous archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.After the installation of the new assistant bishop of Hamina, the Orthodox Church of Finland has now four hierarchs.
