Herman

Archbishop Herman (, born Herman Aav or German Vasilyevich Aav, ) (b. 2 September 1878, Hellamaa, Russian Empire – d. 14 January 1961, Kuopio, Finland) was an Estonian-born Orthodox bishop who served from 1925 to 1960 as Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland of the Orthodox Church of Finland.

Life

Childhood and education Herman Aav was born in Muhu, Hellamaa, Russian Empire on 2 September 1878 to the family of cantor Vasili Aavi and Maria Ellik. Herman attended Hellamaa parish church school, Kuressaare city elementary school and studied at the spiritual school in Riga from 1889 and at the spiritual seminary from 1894 onwards.

The russian speaking Archbishop Serafim (Lukjanov) was transferred to termination pay from the beginning of 1924, and in 1925 the General Council elected Bishop Herman to this position. At the same time, the seat of the Archbishop moved from Vyborg to Sortavala, and the title became the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland.

Archbishop Herman's life and work in Finland were active through the building of the spiritual and material life of the church. The Archbishop valued Finland and Karelia, patriotism and local traditions.

He was also a composer and author whose works have been published both in Estonia and Finland, some of them under pen name "H. Lumilill".