TURKEY – On April 6, the Istanbul Lutheran Church (İstanbul Luteryen Kilisesi – ILK) celebrated the consecration of Rev. Feymi Madzhirov as the church’s first bishop. The service took place in Adana.
“When there is a call from God and the Church, you accept it with obedience and great joy on the one hand, and you must tremble on the other,” said Bishop Madzhirov. “As do all servants of Christ, I want to serve His church with all my heart always.”
“When I read the related verses from Paul’s epistles, I understand that I am never adequate for the task in myself and that I am always in need of the grace from God to fulfill the duty,” Bishop Madzhirov continued. “I must admit like Moses that I in myself am not well-equipped for the responsibility (Exodus 4:10) on the one hand. But on the other hand, I know that the needed strength comes from God, and so I can joyfully respond to the Lord, like the prophet Isaiah, ‘Here I am!’ (Isaiah 6:8).”
Bishop Madzhirov previously served since 2009 as Leading Pastor of the ILK, a role which is now encompassed in the position of bishop. The church calls the installation its first bishop “a significant milestone” not only for Bishop Madzhirov but also for “the continued growth of our church and mission.”
Bishop Madzhirov initially studied theology through a Presbyterian seminary in Sofia, Bulgaria, completing his studies in 1999. He later studied Lutheran theology under Rev. Risto Soramies of Finland, the ILK’s founding pastor. Bishop Madzhirov was ordained in 2005, with Rev. Risto Soramies supervising, and with Rev. Pekka Makipaa, Rev. Vasko Lozanos, and Rev. Suleyman also participating.
Officiating at the consecration of Bishop Madzhirov was Bishop Ivan Laptev of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (Евангелическо-лютеранская церковь Ингрии – ELCI), assisted by Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (Suomen evankelisluterilainen Lähetyshiippakunta – ELMDF) and Bishop Hans Jönsson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia’s (Latvijas Evaņģēliski Luteriskā Baznīca – LELB) Liepaja Diocese.
Bishop Pohjola also brought greetings on behalf of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which he serves as Chairman. Joining him was another Finnish pastor, Rev. Ville Typpö, who previously served as head of the Turkish church.
“It brings me great joy to bring you greetings from the ELMDF and the ILC on this solemn and historical day,” Bishop Pohjola said. “You have received the office of bishop to serve the Istanbul Lutheran Church with the pure Gospel of Christ and rightly administered Sacraments. It is a calling to servanthood, not of lordship over your brothers in ministry and the congregations. The episcopal office serves the unity of the Church with the truth of the Word of God and patient brotherly love and guidance.”
“On behalf of the International Lutheran Council, I want to encourage you that the Istanbul Lutheran Church has brothers and sisters all over the world, who rejoice with you today and pray for you and your church,” Bishop Pohjola continued. “Your episcopal ministry signifies unity with other church leaders of the International Lutheran Council, who share the same confession, mission, and hardships.”
The Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland has deep connections with the church in Turkey. The ILK’s founding pastor was Rev. Soramies, who would go on to serve as the first bishop of the ELMDF.
The consecration service for Bishop Madzhirov happened a day after the conclusion of the ILK’s “Lutheran Days in Turkey” event, held April 4-5. This conference took as its theme verse “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). A key topic of discussion during the meetings was the strengthening of confessional Lutheranism in Turkey.
The history of Lutheranism in Turkey dates back to 1709, but the ILK itself was formally established in 2003. In addition to serving Lutherans in Turkey, it also serves Turkish-speaking Lutherans in Bulgaria, where it operates under the name “Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bulgaria” (Евангелиска Лутеранска Църква в България – ELCB).
The Istanbul Lutheran Church became an observer member of the International Lutheran Council in 2024. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria, the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia are also members of the ILC. The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
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