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New England young adults belonging to CrossRoad Institute’s Telos Center completed their Finland pilgrimage with a visit to the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, which houses the country’s only Orthodox seminary.
The pilgrims were offered a tour by Fr. Teemu Toivonen, a university teacher in Orthodox practical theology, as well as two current students.
> Previously: Pilgrims celebrate Epiphany upon a Finnish monastery’s frozen lake
Fr. Teemu explained aspects of the Finnish educational system, as well as particularities of the University of Eastern Finland’s Orthodox theology programs. All full-time parish priests must complete a Master of Theology from the School of Theology; likewise, the school also provides qualifications for full-time cantors and religious educators as well as academics.
Religious education is required in Finnish schools, with most students taking courses on the two state traditions: the Evangelical Luthern Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland (OCF). As such, the country experiences a high demand for qualified religion teachers.
> Previously: CrossRoad Institute pilgrims tour New Valamo Monastery
Students in the Orthodox theology program can choose from several academic tracks: Bible studies, comparative religion, church history, systematic theology and patristics, practical theology, and church music.
Fr. Teemu shared with a few pilgrims his own research, which focuses on conversions to Orthodoxy in Finland. He explained that in many ways, conversion trends mirror those currently experienced by U.S Orthodox communities. Recently, the OCF’s synod approved suggested catechesis requirements, and are currently working toward national implementation.
> Previously: Convert crisis? Clergy, scholars weigh in on ideological concerns
Fr. Teemu also explained some differences between the OCF and Orthodoxy in the U.S. While Finland’s Orthodox population includes faithful from various ethnic backgrounds, these parishioners all fall under the OCF’s jurisdiction (in contrast with U.S. faithful’s division between GOARCH, the Orthodox Church in America, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, and so forth).
Additionally, Finnish is the primary liturgical language of the OCF, and this is generally considered uncontroversial; however, parishes also offer infrequent services in Church Slavonic, Greek, English, and other languages when and where needed.
> Previously: CrossRoad Institute commences second annual Finland pilgrimage
Following Fr. Teemu’s presentation, the seminarians accompanied the young adults in touring Joensuu’s two Orthodox churches: the Church of St. Nicholas and the Church of St. John the Theologian.
The latter was built solely to serve the school’s seminarians, offering them a chance to marry their academic study with practical liturgical experience and a spiritual home. Its iconography exhibits a traditional Byzantine style, rare in Finland and arranged by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
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