The Archdiocese of Turku is the oldest diocese in Finland. Medieval bishops of the Catholic Church were also de facto secular leaders of the country until the end of the 13th century.

After the Reformation in Scandinavia, Lutheran bishops became state officials. When Finland became a separate grand duchy, the then bishop of Turku was designated as an archbishop in 1817. Since 1868, the archbishops of Turku and Finland have been considered primates of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

Bishop Henry Henry, Bishop of Uppsala is often mentioned in contemporary sources as the first bishop of Finland. According to legend, the English-born Henry arrived in Finland with King Eric IX of Sweden during the First Swedish Crusade, later suffering martyrdom in the 1150s. His position as Bishop of Finland is, however, totally unhistorical, and not claimed even by legendary accounts.

Catholic bishops of Finland Rodulff 1156?–1178? (first mentioned in the 15th century, uncertain) Fulco 1178?–1198? (first mentioned in the 15th century, uncertain) An unnamed Bishop of Finland is mentioned dead in 1209. Papal letters to unnamed Bishops of Finland have survived from 1221, 1229 and 1232. Thomas 1230s?–1245 Bero I 1248–1258

Catholic bishops of Turku (Åbo, Aboa) The position Bishop of Finland was renamed Bishop of Turku, first mentioned in 1259, in a move to harmonise the name of the dioceses with other Swedish sees. Ragvald I, 1258–1266 Catillus, 1266–1286 Johannes I, 1286–1290 Magnus I, 1291–1308 Ragvald II, 1309–1321 Benedictus II Gregor (, ), 1321–1338 Hemming, 1338–1366 Henrik Hartmansson (), 1366–1367 Johannes II Petri (, ), 1367–1370 Johannes III Westfal, 1370–1384 Bero II Balk (), 1387–1412 Magnus II Tavast (), 1412–1450 Olaus Magni (, ), 1450–1460 Konrad Bitz, 1460–1489 Magnus III Nicolai (, ), 1489–1500 Laurentius Michaelis (), 1500–1506 Johannes IV Olavi (, ), 1507–1510 Arvid Kurki, 1511–1522 Ericus Svenonius, 1523–1527 Martti Skytte. 1528–1550

Lutheran Bishops of Turku Mikael Agricola 1554–1557 Petrus Follingius 1558–1563 Paulus Juusten 1563–1575 Ericus Erici Sorolainen 1583–1625 Isaacus Rothovius 1627–1652 Eskillus Petraeus 1652–1657 Johannes Terserus 1658–1664 Johannes Gezelius the elder 1664–1690 Johannes Gezelius the younger 1690–1718 Herman Witte 1721–1728 Lars Tammelin 1728–1733 Jonas Fahlenius 1734–1746 Johan Browallius 1749–1755 Karl Fredrik Mennander 1757–1775 Jakob Haartman 1776–1788 Jakob Gadolin 1788–1802 Jakob Tengström 1803–1817

Archbishops of Turku and Finland The Bishop of Turku was elevated to archiepiscopal rank in 1817. The title of the see was changed to the Archbishop of Turku and Finland.Turun piispat (n.1157–1817) sekä Turun ja Suomen arkkipiispat (1817–) . Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Retrieved 10-11-2007. .

Jakob Tengström 1817–1832 Erik Gabriel Melartin 1833–1847 Edvard Bergenheim 1850–1884 Torsten Thure Renvall 1884–1898 Gustaf Johansson 1899–1930 Lauri Ingman 1930–1934 Erkki Kaila 1935–1944 Aleksi Lehtonen 1945–1951 Ilmari Salomies 1951–1964 Martti Simojoki 1964–1978 Mikko Juva 1978–1982 John Vikström 1982–1998 Jukka Paarma 1998–2010 Kari Mäkinen 2010–2018 Tapio Luoma 2018–

Bishops of Turku Archdiocese The title Bishop of Turku ceased to exist in 1817. Since 1998, the Archbishop of Turku and Finland has been assisted in the diocese by a Bishop of Turku.

Ilkka Kantola 1998–2005 Kari Mäkinen 2006–2010 Kaarlo Kalliala 2011–2021 Mari Leppänen 2021–

See also Archdiocese of Turku Roman Catholic Diocese of Helsinki

References

External links Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland – Official site