Elia

Archbishop Elia (secular name: Elia Wallgrén; formerly Matti Veli Juhani Wallgrén; born 8 December 1961, Kajaani, Finland) is the current archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Finland since 1 December 2024. His cathedral is the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki. Previously, he served as the Metropolitan of Oulu and was consecrated on 11 January 2015.

Background Wallgrén’s both parents were Karelians, his father was from Kivennapa and his mother from Sortavala. In the Continuation War his father served as in armed reconnaissance behind enemy lines from the age of 17. His mother was Orthodox, and his father joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in his old age.

Studies Wallgrén matriculated in the town of Kajaani. After this he studied at Stockholm University, his subjects being Swedish and Czech languages and phonetics. He also studied pedagogy and became a teacher for a comprehensive school in Stockholm. He lived in Sweden for eight years. He also lived in the Czech Republic for two years, working as a guide.

In 2001 he transferred to the Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. He completed the degree of Master of Divinity there.

Priesthood Metropolitan Ambrosius (Jääskeläinen) ordained Wallgrén a deacon in the St. Herman of Alaska Church in Espoo on 29 May 2003. after which he was assigned to that church. Wallgrén was the only priest of his vast parish, and he has said that he drove 45,000 km every year. In the final election, Wallgrén received 17 votes and Vicar Bishop Arseni (Heikkinen) of Joensuu received 16 votes. One delegate left an empty ballot.

The election caused some polemics afterwards. The church council had no information on Wallgrén prior to the election, not even a curriculum vitae, even though it was said that Wallgrén had given his consent to his candidacy two weeks prior to the election. It was also said that in practice the delegates from the Helsinki Diocese elected the new bishop, since the other two dioceses have so few delegates that they would not form a majority. Archbishop Leo complained that the new bishop came as if from “behind a tree”.

The igumen of the New Valamo monastery, Archimandrite Sergei tonsured Wallgrén a monk, with the name of Elia, in honour of Prophet Elia of Tisbe. The following day in Valamo, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Metropolitan Panteleimon (Sarho).

Episcopacy Elia was consecrated a bishop in Oulu on 11 January 2015. The consecration was by Archbishop Leo (Makkonen) of Karelia and All Finland, and he was assisted by the other four Finnish bishops.

In January 2015, Metropolitan Elia travelled to Constantinople, where Archbishop Leo introduced him to Patriarch Bartholomew I .

In November 2024 Metropolitan Elia was elected Archbishop of Helsinki and All Finland after the retirement of Archbishop Leo (Makkonen). He was enthroned on December 15 by Metropolitan Arsenios (Kardamakis) of Austria.

On 22 January 2026, there was an incident between Boris Bojović and Elia, during a trip to Rome. Bojović claimed to had met with Elia, which he used to claim that Elia supported the non-canonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church, of which Bojović is the disputed metropolitan. Elia refuted the idea that they had met, claiming instead that they had been together briefly during a gathering, during which time a picture was taken.

Views on Russia After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the relations between the Finnish Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have been in a state “deep freezing”. According to Elia, this situation might continue as it is for several decades. In order for the situation to change, Ukraine must be granted sovereignty, and Russia must be convicted of war crimes. In addition, the aggressor must engage in self-examination. “Even within the Russian Church, there must be repentance and an apology.” But Russia is unlikely to repent, Elia has stated. “A change in our relations may not take place in my lifetime,” he told Suomen Kuvalehti in 2026.