Gallery: Turku makes history with first female bishop

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Gallery: Turku makes history with first female bishop

Mari Leppänen was ordained as bishop of the Archdiocese of Turku on Sunday, breaking a 900-year-old tradition by being the first woman appointed to the position.

The 42-year old is only the third woman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The first, Irja Askola, served as bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki from 2010–2017.

Leppänen also became the first woman from the Conservative Laestadian movement (a revival movement within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland) to be ordained as a priest in 2012. She has been very active in criticising the rise of online gambling in Finland, along with other vices.

The first female priests were ordained in Finland 32 years ago.

You can see more photos of the historical ceremony by scrolling through the gallery.

Image credit: Lehtikuva

Tahira Sequeira - HT