Samuel Lehtonen

Samuel Lehtonen ( born February 3, 1921 in Helsinki, † August 20, 2010 ) was a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

Lehtonen was born in 1921 as son of the future Bishop of Tampere, Aleksi Lehtonen, Helsinki. In 1946 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree and was ordained in the same year in Turku as a priest. In 1956 he received his theological licentiate.

Lehtonen was for many years pastor in the Diocese of Helsinki, among other things, he was from 1962 to 1982 Vicar in Tapiola. Between 1970 and 1989 he participated in the dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church in Finland.

1982 Lehtonen Bishop of Helsinki and has held this post until his retirement in 1991. As bishop he consecrated 1988, the first priestess, which represented the first ordination of women in Finland.

The University of Helsinki in 1980 awarded him an honorary doctorate in theology.