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In 1955 Fr. Paul was elected an assistant [[bishop]], a position that had been vacant since 1925. In this position, Bp. Paul was instrumental in beginning the intellectual and spiritual reconstruction of the Church of Finland. On [[August 29]], 1960, he was elected Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland. As first Hierarch of the Church of Finland, Abp. Paul strengthened the ecumenical relations of the Church of Finland both domestically and internationally. Under Abp. Paul's leadership the Church of Finland entered a new era of recognition in Finland, resulting, in 1970, in the recognition of the Orthodox Church as the Second State Church.
A charismatic and deeply spiritual person, Abp. Paul worked fervently in the development of the liturgical life of the Finnish Church. He encouraged frequent communion of the faithful and saw membership in the Church grow. Abp. Paul also placed much attention on the development of [[New ValsmoValamo|New Valaam Monastery]] as a functioning monastery as well as the site of an Orthodox Culture and Research Institute.
Abp. Paul wrote a number of books on Orthodoxy and Orthodox life. The most notable in English was ''The Faith We Hold'', ISBN 978-0-91383-663-7. In 1967, he was honored by the Theological Faculty of the University of Helsinki with an honorary doctorate. Also, he was named a member of the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Academy]].
[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: List of Archbishops of Finland]]
