John Edvin Vikström (born October 1, 1931 in Kronoby, Finland) is a Finnish priest. He served as the

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

of Turku and Finland from 1982 to 1998.

Personal life

John was born to parents Edvin and Hilma Vikström. In 1957 he married teacher Birgitta Vikström (b. Hellberg) who died in 1994. John Vikström has three children. His brother Erik Vikström and his son Björn Vikström are both his successors as bishop of Porvoo/Borgå.

Archbishop of Turku and Finland 1982–1998

As the 53rd successor of St. Henry, Vikström's era was far reaching. During his term as the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Church carried out many reforms. The Church was given a new Bible translation and a new hymnbook, the ordained ministry has been opened to women, church law was reformed and liturgical reform was undertaken. The Church of Finland was also active ecumenically. Archbishop emeritus John Vikström continues to be a popular speaker in academia and business. John Vikström has also publicly embraced the idea of a basic income as a solution to social exclusion: The archbishop has placed the chairmanship of the Church's Social-Ethical Forum as his priority. The forum's aim is to resolve problems in the status of the elderly and poor in Finland. An acclaimed author of numerous books and papers, his correspondence with Jörn Donner was voted as Book of the Year in 2002.

Theological merits

Studies and career *

Helsinki University The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public university, public Research university, research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turk ...

: ** Bachelor of Theology (1956) *

Åbo Akademi Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a List of cities and towns in Finland, city and former Capital city, capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura (Archipelago Sea), Aura River, in the region of Southwest Finland, Finland Proper ...

: **Licenciate of Theology (1962) **Doctor of Theology (1966) (subject of doctorate: Religion and Culture) *Stipendiate of World Council of Churches in Tübingen, Germany (1956–1957) * Ordained June 12, 1956 * Ex officio position in the

Esbo Espoo (, ; sv, Esbo) is a city and municipality in the region of Uusimaa in the Republic of Finland. It is located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland, bordering the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, Kirkkonummi, Vihti and Nurmijärvi while ...

Swedish parish (1957) * Pastor of Diaconia in the

Borgå Porvoo (; sv, Borgå ; la, Borgoa) is a city and a municipality in the Uusimaa region of Finland, situated on the southern coast about east of the city border of Helsinki and about from the city centre. Porvoo was one of the six medieval to ...

Diocese (1957–1961) * Assistant of Systematic Theology (1963–1964), lecturer at Åbo Akademi (1966-1970) * Associate Professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Religion at Åbo Akademi (1970) * Bishop of Borgå Diocese (1970–1982) * Archbishop of Turku and Finland (1982–1998) Awards and prizes *Honorary doctor: **

Leningrad Theological Academy The Saint Petersburg Theological Academy (russian: Санкт-Петербургская духовная академия) is a theological seminary in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The academy grants master and doctorate degrees preparing theologi ...

(1985) ** Budapest Lutheran Theological Academy (1987) ** Finlandia University, Hancock, United States (1998) **

(2002) **

University of Vaasa The University of Vaasa ( fi, Vaasan yliopisto, sv, Vasa universitet) is a multidisciplinary, business-oriented university in Vaasa, Finland. The campus of the university is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia adjacent to downtown Vaasa. The univ ...

(2006) *Hallberg Prize (1967) * Swedish Cultural Fund Prize (1981) *Decoration of the Grand Cross of German Democratic Republic (1989) * Order of the White Rose - Grand Cross (1986) *Cross of Apostle and Evangelist Mark, 1st Class (1989) *Order of the Holy Lamb, Commander 1st Class (1991) * Medal of Jordanian Independence, 1st Class (1993) *Lambeth Cross (1994) * Anders Chydenius Prize (1995) *Swedish Finland Award, in silver (1996) *Finland's Communal Union Award, in gold (1997) *Friends of the Swedish Folk School Award (1998) *Medal of Merit, Defence Forces of Finland, in gold (1998) *Medal of Journalism and Press (1999) * Cross of Maarjamaa (2001) *Cross of St. Henry (2007)

Bibliography

*''Religion och kultur. Grundproblemet i G.G. Rosenqvists religiösa tänkande'' (1966) *''Religionssociologin i Finland'' (1967) *''Kyrka och revolution'' (1968) *''Kyrkan och kulturradikalismen'' (1968) *''Effekten av religiös fostran'' (1970) *''Tro i kris'' (1972) *''Fråga biskopen om tro'' (1980) *''Ihmisen usko'' (1982) *''Herdestaven'' (1982) *''Kuitenkin'' (''Trots allt'') (1983) *''Uusi rohkeus elää'' (1985) *''Kirjeen kääntöpiiri'' (''Öppna svar'') (with Eero Silvasti) (1987) *''Suuntaviittoja'' (1988) *''Myös maan päällä'' (1992) *''Reconciliation and Hope'' (1998) *''Att leva är att dö'' (2000) (with Jörn Donner) *''Vapaus ja vakaumus'' (2003) *''Toivo ja elämä'' (2005)

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vikstrom, John 1931 births Living people People from Kronoby Swedish-speaking Finns Lutheran archbishops and bishops of Turku 20th-century Lutheran archbishops Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 2nd Class University of Helsinki alumni Åbo Akademi University alumni Academic staff of Åbo Akademi University Recipients of the Order of Independence (Jordan)