The newly elected Archbishop Elia has made it clear the direction the Orthodox Church of Finland will take under his leadership.
In a recent interview with a Finnish media outlet, Archbishop Elia reiterated the stance of the Orthodox Church of Finland, aligning with the former Archbishop Leo in condemning the Russian aggressive war in Ukraine and the Russian Church’s support for it.
He clarified that he values discussion and listening, distancing himself from the Serbian Church and Russia. Archbishop Elia stated, “Our ties with Serbia have been cut due to their support for the Russian war in Ukraine. I have no personal connections with the Russian Church either,” he added.
His election requires confirmation by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for which he will travel there soon.
Archbishop Elia highlighted the importance of listening and stated that any changes within the Church will be discussed openly, considering its ties to the Orthodox world and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
He also addressed the role of women in the Church, expressing his intention to bring the matter to the Synod of Bishops for discussion. Archbishop Elia emphasized the need to listen to those affected and acknowledged the significance of addressing the role of women in the Church.
During an Orthodox-Catholic meeting in Crete, Archbishop Elia proposed the topic of the role of women, which was met with a profound silence, indicating the need for further dialogue within the Church.