John Vikström

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John Vikström
John Vikström

John Edvin Vikström, (born 1931 October 1, in Kronoby, Finland) was the Archbishop of Turku and Finland from 1982 until 1998 and is now Archbishop emeritus of Finland. He was married to teacher Birgitta Vikström from 1957 until her death in 1994.

John Vikström has three children and ten grandchildren.


As the 53rd successor of St. Henry - Vikström's era was vivid - during Archbishop Vikström's term of office the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has carried out many reforms. The Church has been given a new Bible translation and a new hymnbook, the ordained ministry has been opened to women, church law has been reformed and liturgical reform has been undertaken. The Church of Finland has also been active ecumenically.

John Vikström was diagnosed with prostate cancer some years ago. After the immediate threat about prostate cancer has now declined, of which archbishop has spoken freely about in press, he has appeared to be very busy and visible at Finnish media.

While retired, he is still very active with building a dialogue between business and political world, as well as being a popular speaker. Archbishop emeritus Vikström has also publicly embraced the idea of a basic income as a solution to social exclusion. He said:

"In this way, even working a little would be possible and would make sense. The system would not push people into idleness and divide citizens into winners and losers as cruelly as is the case now. I look at the question from the point of view of human dignity. A basic income paid to everyone would be less humiliating than the present benefit system can sometimes become. Basic income would send every citizen the following encouraging and motivating message: 'You are important. You are not a burden, but a resource. You are important by being a human being for others. Whatever work you do, in whatever situations, whether or not you are paid to do it, you still contribute to building our society.'"

The priority of the archbishop is now being the chairman of Church's socioethical forum trying resolve problems in the status of the elderly and poor in Finland.

[edit] Theological merits

  • Ex officio position in Esbo Swedish parish 1957.
  • Pastor of diaconia in Borgå diocese 1957-1961.
  • Assistant of systematic theology in Turku University 1963-1964, lecturer 1966-1970 in Åbo Akademi.
  • Associate professor of ethics and philosophy of religion in Åbo Akademi 1970.
  • Bishop of Borgå diocese 1970- 1982, Archbishop of Turku and Finland 1982-1998.
  • Honorary doctor:
  • Hallberg-prize 1967
  • Swedish Cultural Fund's prize 1981
  • Finland's White Rose -knighthood cross 1986
  • 1st class cross of apostle and evangelist Mark 1989
  • Jordanian Independence -medal, 1st class 1993
  • Lambeth-cross 1994
  • Anders Chydenius-prize 1995
  • Swedish Finland's award in silver 1996
  • Finland's Communal Union award in gold 1997
  • Friends of Swedish folk school award 1998
  • Medal of the Army of Finland in gold 1998
  • Medal of the journalism and press 1999
  • Maarjamaa cross 2001
  • Cross of St. Henry 2007

[edit] 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.
  • At leva är att dö 2000 with Jörn Donner
  • Vapaus ja vakaumus 2003
  • Toivo ja elämä 2005

- Hobbies: sports, reading

Preceded by
Mikko Juva		 Archbishop of Turku
1982–1998		 Succeeded by
Jukka Paarma
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