Leo Makkonen Explained

Type:Archbishop
Leo
Archbishop of Helsinki and all Finland
Church:Orthodox Church of Finland
Predecessor:Johannes
Native Name:Leo Makkonen
Birth Date:4 June 1948
Birth Place:Pielavesi, Finland
Appointed:27 October 2001
Occupation:priest
Ordination:22 July 1973
Children:1
Honorific Prefix:His Eminence
Ordained By:Archbishop Paavali
Consecration:1980
Consecrated By:Archbishop Paavali
Birth Name:Leo Makkonen

Leo Makkonen is a Finnish Orthodox prelate who serves as Archbishop of Helsinki and All Finland. He is the head of the Finnish Orthodox Church.[1]

Background and career

He was born in Pielavesi in eastern Finland on June 4, 1948. After completing studies in 1972 at the Kuopio seminary, he was ordained deacon on 20 July 1973 and priest two days later.

He was consecrated Bishop of Joensuu on 25 February 1979, then served as Metropolitan of Oulu from 1980–1996. From 1996–2001 he served as Metropolitan of Helsinki, before taking up his post as Archbishop of Karelia;[2] he was confirmed on 27 October 2001.[3]

From 1979–1993 he served as chair of the Fellowship of Saints Sergius and Herman.

Makkonen will retire no later than November 2024.

Private life

Archbishop Leo is a widower. He has one daughter, and two grandchildren.[4]

On his 60th birthday, Leo consecrated an eukterion in his hometown of Pielavesi. Building one had been a long-time dream of his.[5]

Honors

Notes and References

  1. News: "For the Life of the World". 21 December 2019.
  2. Web site: Bernard. Nicolas. Mitro Repo. Info-Finlande. 21 March 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120321155718/http://www.info-finlande.fr/politique/article/Mitro_Repo.html. 21 March 2012.
  3. Book: Levillain, Philippe . Philippe Boutry . Yves-Marie Fradet. 150 ans au coeur de Rome: le Séminaire français, 1853-2003. 2004. Karthala. 978-2-84586-580-8. 375.
  4. Web site: Leppänen . Veli-Pekka . 2018-06-03 . Arkkipiispa Leo on karjalaispoika ja kirkkoisä, joka peräänkuuluttaa ymmärrystä kulttuurien kohtaamisissa . 2024-04-06 . Helsingin Sanomat . fi.
  5. Web site: 2008-06-04 . Arkkipiispa Leo esittelee kotitsasounaansa Pielavedellä . 2024-04-06 . Kaleva . fi.
  6. Web site: 2020-10-09 . Muut kunnia- ja ansiomerkit . 2024-04-06 . Ritarikunnat . fi.
  7. Web site: 2006-11-30 . Presidentti myönsi lähes 5 500 kunniamerkkiä . 2024-04-06 . Yle Uutiset . fi.
  8. Web site: 2008-06-09 . Arkkipiispa Leolle Pyhän Henrikin risti . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927032838/http://evl.fi/EVLUutiset.nsf/Documents/81F4519F74BABDE6C22574630040DA29?OpenDocument&lang=fi . 2011-09-27 . Kirkon tiedotuskeskus . fi.