Diaconal Work and Activities of the Orthodox Church in Finland
Aino Nenola, Project Manager, Orthodox Church Aid and Missions Philanthropy
According to the church law of the Orthodox Church in Finland, the dioceses, parishes and members of the church should give help that is based on the Christian understanding of life. This help should be addressed especially to those who need it the most and who are not otherwise assisted. On the parish level, this help is organised through mandatory diaconia committees and implemented by either professionals and/or volunteers.
Historical/Biblical Reflections on Diaconia Diaconia is based on the existence of the church as a liturgical community. Liturgy is the key consciousness of the church offering its gratitude to God for His offerings, participating in His salvific act in receiving the Eucharist. The Eucharist forms the community that will continue Liturgy after Liturgy, taking forth the goodness they have received in the church. Thus, diaconia is both an attitude and the action of the church community. It is a sign of communion within the community, and between the community and the surrounding world. The word ‘diaconia’ means ‘service’, a calling to serve according to the example of Christ (Matt.20:25-28). Although diaconia is understood as a calling for every Christian, it has also always been a hierarchical post in the church structure (deacon-priest-bishop). From historical perspective, the role of deacons and deaconesses is rooted in the very beginning of the church (Acts 6:1-6). As the Christian community began to increase, there was a need to appoint particular individuals to carry out the responsibility for the philanthropic work of the church. The role of deacons and deaconesses was helping the needy in communities, taking the communion to those who were not able to enter the church, and assisting
in liturgical activities. The order of deaconesses faded away after the first millennium. In today’s Finland, professional diaconal workers, both male and female, working for parishes are required social or health care training. They do not participate in the liturgical work. In this article, the terms diaconia and diaconal activities refer to the ‘social diaconal services’ carried out in the parishes and not to the liturgical functions of male deacons ordained to the hierarchical order. Naturally, there are also people who combine both these tasks in their ministry.
Whose Job Is It? Diaconia can be implemented by professional diaconal workers and/or volunteer members of the parish. In the Orthodox Church in Finland, the diaconal activities are carried out mainly on a voluntary basis, and additionally in Helsinki parish with six and in Joensuu parish with one professional. This fact sets the framework for the realistic possibilities and potentials for the diaconal work in parishes. This is not automatically a disadvantage, but it requires particular leadership and support starting from the level of the central administration of the church. There is also some potential for organised diaconal activities in parishes that do not have professional diaconal workers leading the work. It is hoped that the church would offer a dome structure for volunteer-based diaconia – what it should be and how it could be implemented in parishes. This could perhaps include sharing of the best-practice models for low threshold diaconal activities, a basic guide to volunteers in diaconia along with a general diaconal strategy for the church. Producing these is part of the current working plan for the church. Most probably, the church would also benefit if the employees (priests and cantors) would have a basic training for (leading) diaconal work in their studies. Diaconia needs both financial and spiritual resources. Although the financial resources remain limited, the potential for implementing the diaconal work depends just as much (or even more) on the consciousness of the church administration, employees in parishes and their willingness to encourage and inspire the people to carry out diaconal activities. Thus, it is essential for the church to raise awareness for diaconia and its meaning. Many parishes carry out some diaconal activities, although they do not necessarily recognise or name these activities as diaconia.
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