Irja Askola, Finland's first ever female bishop

Irja Askola, Finland's first ever female bishop, is to start as the of bishop of Helsinki on Wednesday.

The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church elected Askola to replace retiring Eero Huovinen on 3 June.

Askola gained a narrow victory in the second round of the episcopal elections over Matti Poutiainen, with 591 votes to 567 among the electoral college.

Some 1,400 people attended Huovinen's farewell sermon on Tuesday. Huovinen delivered the sermon at the Helsinki Cathedral. Amongst the attendees was Tarja Halonen, Finland's president.

With the sermon, Huovinen encouraged the congregation to search for a connection to God and their neighbours.

Huovinen was ordained as the bishop of Helsinki in 1991, and is the fifth bishop for the diocese.

STT
Lehtikuva - Markku Ulander