Herman Aav

Archbishop Herman (Finnish: Arkkipiispa Herman, born Herman Aav or German Vasilyevich Aav, Russian: Герман Васильевич Аав) (b. 2 September 1878, Hellamaa, Russian Empire – d. 14 January 1961, Kuopio, Finland)^[1] was an Estonian-born Orthodox bishop who served from 1925 to 1960 as Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland of the Orthodox Church of Finland.^[2]

His Eminence Herman
Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland
Herman in 1930
Native name	Herman Aav
Church	Orthodox Church of Finland
Appointed	1925
Term ended	1960
Predecessor	Seraphim (Lukjanov)
Successor	Paul (Olmari)
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Sortavala (1923-1925)
Orders
Ordination	1904
Consecration	1923
Personal details
Born	2 September 1878 Hellanmaa, Muhu, Russian Empire
Died	14 January 1961 Kuopio, Finland
Nationality	Estonian
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Spouse	Ljubov Bobrovskaja (1904 - 1921)
Children	6

Life

Chilhood and education

Herman Aav was born in Muhu, Hellamaa, Russian Empire on 2 September 1878 to the family of cantor Vasili Aavi and Maria Ellik. Herman attended Hellamaa parish church school, Kuresaaari city elementary school and studied at the spiritual school in Riga from 1889 and at the spiritual seminary from 1894 onwards.^[1]

Priesthood and marriage

In 1904, she married Ljubov Bobrovskaja. After that he was ordained a deacon and priest in the same year. Spouse Ljubov Aav died during the birth of the sixth child in 1921 and the young priest suddenly became the sole parent of a large family.^[1]

Episcopacy

In 1922, the General Council of the Orthodox Church of Finland elected him as Vicar Bishop to the Archbishop of Vyborg and All Finland with the title Bishop of Sortavala.^[3]

The russian speaking Archbishop Serafim (Lukjanov) was transferred to termination pay from the beginning of 1924, and in 1925 the General Council elected Bishop Herman to this position. At the same time, the seat of the Archbishop moved from Vyborg to Sortavala, and the title became the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland.

Archbishop Herman's life and work in Finland were active through the building of the spiritual and material life of the church. The Archbishop valued Finland and Karelia, patriotism and local traditions.

He was also a composer and author whose works have been published both in Estonia and Finland, some of them under pen name "H. Lumilill".^[2]

Retirement and death

Archbishop Herman retired in 1960 and moved to spend his retirement days in Kuopio. He died on 14 January 1961. He is buried in the Great Cemetery of Kuopio.^[4]