Vihkimys

Vihkimys on the religious rite of consecration or ordination through which a person is made part of the clergy or given a sacred office. The term covers both ordination of ministers and the consecration of sacred spaces or objects. In Christian traditions, vihkimys typically involves prayers, the laying on of hands, and, in many contexts, anointing with oil. The rite formalizes the appointment to ministry and includes vows or promises regarding faith, obedience, and a holy life. In Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches, ordination is understood as the transmission of sacred orders, and in some traditions there are distinct degrees such as deacon, priest, and bishop.

In Finnish church life, vihkimys is the standard term for ordination to pastoral ministry. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Orthodox Church conduct vihkimys as part of their ordination rites. The Catholic Church also uses the concept in its Finnish-language liturgy, though the exact form varies by rite. The practice has its roots in early Christianity and centers on the community recognizing and authorizing a person’s spiritual authority through prayer and the laying on of hands.

Vihkimys is distinct from civil or secular ceremonies such as marriage, which are governed by different terms in law. The broader notion of consecration, however, also applies to the dedication of churches, altars, and liturgical vessels within church life.