In Memoriam: Mother Marina (Iltola) of Lintula

Abbess Marina (Iltola) of the Lintula Monastery of the Holy Trinity in eastern Finland has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of eighty-two. Born in 1930 on the shores of Lake Ladoga, Mother Marina (originally named Maria) studied in Finland and the United States. As a young woman Maria worked in Finland as a teacher while remaining actively involved in the life of the Orthodox Church, even going to Kenya in 1977 as a missionary.

Not long after her service in Kenya, in 1982, Maria joined the sisterhood of the Lintula Monastery, being tonsured to the little schema in 1988. Ten years later Mother Marina was elected abbess of the Lintula sisterhood, in which capacity she served until her repose earlier today due to complications from an auto accident. May Mother Marina's memory be eternal! More on her life can be found in Finnish here.

Moldovan Orthodox Delegation Visits Finland

A delegation of the Moldovan Orthodox Church has visited Finland with the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau. The delegation went to Finland to learn more about the social outreach of the Finnish Orthodox Church. During its time in Finland the delegation's members visited the Uusi Valamo Monastery and other communities and institutions of the Orthodox Church in Finland and also met with Archbishop Leo (Makkonen) of Kuopio and All Finland. More (in Romanian) here.

Pictured is Archbishop Leo with the delegation's leader, Archimandrite Ioan (Moşneguţu).

Metropolitan Kallistos Visits Helsinki

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diocleia of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has visited Helsinki, Finland, to deliver a lecture in the Finnish Orthodox Church's Sophia Cultural Center there. During his visit to Helsinki Metropolitan Kallistos also celebrated the Sunday Liturgy in the city's Cathedral of the Dormition. More (in Finnish) here.

Church Consecrated in Kuopio

Archbishop Leo (Makkonen) of Kuopio and All Finland has reconsecrated the church housed in the Finnish Orthodox Church's administrative center in Kuopio, Finland, following its restoration. More (in Finnish) here.

Stolen Finnish Orthodox Icon Recovered

Finnish police have recovered a miraculous icon stolen from Helsinki's Cathedral of the Dormition. Following restoration work the icon will be returned to the cathedral. More here.