Nonrelativistic and relativistic DFT calculations are performed on four-coordinate metal porphyrins MP and their six-coordinate adducts MP(py) 2 and MP(py)(CO) (py=pyridine) with M=Fe, Ru, and Os. The electronic structures of the MPs are investigated by considering all possible low-lying states with different configurations of nd-electrons. FeP and OsP have a 3 A 2 g ground state, while this state is nearly degenerate with 3 E g for RuP. Without relativistic corrections, the ground states of both RuP and OsP would be 3 E g . For the six-coordinate adducts with py and CO, the strong-field axial ligands raise the energy of the M d z 2 -orbital, thereby making the M I I ion diamagnetic. The calculated redox properties of MP(py) 2 and MP(py)(CO) are in agreement with experiment. The difference between RuP(py)(CO) and OsP(py)(CO), in terms of site of oxidation, is due to relativistic effects.