Background
Vikström, John Edvin was born on October 1, 1931 in Kronoby, Finland. Son of Edvin and Hilma Elisabet (Lindström) Vikström.
Vikström, John Edvin was born on October 1, 1931 in Kronoby, Finland. Son of Edvin and Hilma Elisabet (Lindström) Vikström.
Theological Candidate, University Helsinki, Finland, 1956. Theological Licentiate, Abo Academy, Turku, Finland, 1962. Doctor of Theology, Abo Academy, Turku, Finland, 1966.
Doctor honoris causa, Leningrad (Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics) Theological Seminary, 1987. Doctor honoris causa, Budapest (Hungary) Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1985.
Pastor Esbo Swedish-speaking Congregation, 1956, Diocese of Borgå, 1957-1961. Research assistant systematical theology, then instructor theological faculty Åbo Academy, 1963-1970, associate professor ethics and philosophy religion, 1970. Bishop Borgå Diocese, 1970-1982.
Archbishop Turku and Finland, since 1982. Participant theological negotiations Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland/Russian Orthodox Church, since 1974, also between Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and Anglican Church. Member doctrinal discussions Lutheran World Federation/Roman Catholic Church, 1978-1981.
Delegate General Assemblies, World Council Churches, Upsala, Sweden, 1968, Vancouver, Canada, 1983, Canberra, Australia, 1991. Member central committee World Council Churches, 1983-1991. Representative Church of Finland, Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Budapest, 1984.
Moderator General Assembly Conference European Churches, Prague, Czech Republic, 1992. Chairman Finnish Missionary Society, 1980-1984. Member Ecumenical Council Finland, since 1969, chairman, 1984-1990.
Author: 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, Fråga biskopen om tro, 1980, Ihmisen usko, 1982, Herdestaven, 1982, Uusi rohkeus elää, 1985, (with Eero Silvasti) Kirjeen Kääntöpiiri, 1987. Suuntaviittoja, 1988, Myös maan päällä, 1992, Reconciliation and Hone, 1998.Also textbooks on religion.
Central Committee World Council of Churches since 1983.
History of ideas and culture, sports.
Married Märta Ulla Birgitta Hellberg, August 24, 1957 (deceased 1994). Children: Ulf, Monika, Björn.