[5] In 2001 he transferred to the Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

[6] Metropolitan Ambrosius ordained Wallgrén a deacon in the St. Herman of Alaska Church in Espoo on 29 May 2003.

[5] Archbishop Leo ordained Wallgrén a priest in Jyväskylä on 1 September 2003,[7] after which he was assigned to that church.

[4] Wallgrén was elected the new metropolitan of Oulu in New Valamo in a church council in November 2014.

The matter should be presented to the church members, to the media and through other means, so that people can be mentally prepared somehow and so that their thoughts can mature on the subject, and on what kind of decision might be made.

[17][18][19] In January 2015, Metropolitan Elia travelled to Constantinople, where Archbishop Leo introduced him to Patriarch Bartholomew.

[20] In November 2024 Metropolitan Elia was elected Archbishop of Helsinki and All Finland after the retirement of Archbihop Leo (Makkonen).

Along with his native Finnish, he can also speak Swedish, Czech, Polish, English, German, and some Russian.