The initial history of the theological dialogue between representatives of the Russian orthodox church and the evangelical Lutheran church of Finland

The Finnish government’s change of policy to rapprochement with the Soviet Union based on mutually beneficial cooperation, as expressed in the so-called “Paasikivi-Kekkonen Doctrine”, led to very warm and friendly relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Of course, we should not reject also the Lutherans’ interest in Orthodoxy, which is reflected in their initiative to conduct bilateral theological meetings, the so-called “Sinappi Dialogue”. Te Finnish Orthodox Church at that time could not fully answer all of the Lutherans’ questions about Orthodox theology, liturgy, canon law, and church history, and so Finnish Lutherans sought to contact the Russian Orthodox Church in various ways. In addition to the theological meetings during the 1960’s-1980’s. there were frequent mutual visits of various delegations - from heads of the churches to simple parish priest - and the practice of educating Orthodox students at the theological faculty of the University of Helsinki and educating Lutheran students at the Leningrad Teological Academy was also established. Assistance in providing material and spiritual support for the Orthodox in Finland and the Lutherans in the Soviet Union was also given