vihkija

Vihkija is a Finnish noun meaning “the one who performs consecration, ordination, or blessing.” It is formed from the verb vihkiä, which denotes to consecrate, dedicate, or ordain, with the agent noun suffix -ja, indicating a person who performs the action. In contemporary Finnish, the term is primarily used in ecclesiastical contexts.

In practice, a vihkija is the clergy member who conducts sacred rites that involve consecration or ordination. The exact role depends on the denomination. In Lutheran Finland, for example, a vihkija is typically a pastor or bishop who administers rites such as ordinations (vihkiminen) and confirmations, as well as other blessings requiring consecration. In Orthodox or other Christian traditions present in Finland, the term can similarly refer to the officiant responsible for consecratory sacraments.

The word appears mainly in liturgical and church-related texts, as well as historical descriptions of religious practices. Outside of formal religious writing, the term is relatively uncommon, and everyday language may substitute with more general references to clergy or officiants.

See also: vihkiminen (the act of consecration or ordination), vihkija-ilmaukset in historical church records. The concept is tied to the broader idea of sanctification and official religious authorization within a ritual context.