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.

Akathist to the Konevits Icon Composed in Finland

The Finnish Orthodox Church has blessed the writing of an akathist to the historic Konevits Icon by a nun of the Lintula Monastery. Although roughly 600 years old, an akathist has never been written to the Konevits Icon. More (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.

Russian, Finnish Orthodox Bishops Concelebrate in Helsinki Cathedral

A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by Bishop Lazar (Gurkin) of Narva, an auxiliary of the Estonian Orthodox Church, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Bishop Arseny (Heikkinen) of Joensuu of the Finnish Orthodox Church at Helsinki's famous Cathedral of the Dormition. More here.

Finnish Orthodox Archbishop Leads Ecumenical Delegation in Constantinople

Archbishop Leo (Makkonen) of Kuopio, Karelia, and Finland of the Finnish Orthodox Church is leading a mixed ecumenical delegation of Orthodox, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics from Finland on a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. More here and 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.

Finnish Orthodox Church Approves New Translations

At a recent meeting of the Local Synod of the Finnish Orthodox Church a Finnish-language translation of the Septuagint was approved and blessed for use in the divine services of the Finnish Orthodox Church, as was a new translation of the Great Litany. More here.