Helsinki Cathedral
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| Helsinki Cathedral Helsingin tuomiokirkko |
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| Basic information | |
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| Location | Helsinki, Finland |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| District | Diocese of Helsinki |
| Ecclesiastical status | Cathedral |
| Website | [1] |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect/s | Originally Carl Ludvig Engel and later altered by Ernst Lohrmann |
| Architectual type | Cathedral |
| Architectual style | Neoclassical |
| Year completed | 1852 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | Seats 1,300 |
The Helsinki Cathedral (in Finnish Helsingin tuomiokirkko) is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia and until the independence of Finland in 1917, it was called St. Nicholas' Church.
A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Helsinki, the church was built in 1830-1852, representing the neoclassical style. It was originally designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, the building forming the climax of the whole Senate Square designed by Engel, surrounded by a number of buildings all designed by him. The building has a Greek-cross plan (i.e. a square central mass and four arms of equal length), and is symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions, each marked by a collonade and pediment. Engel had intended to place a further row of columns on the west end to mark the main entrance (opposite the altar at the east end), but this was never realised. The building was later altered by his successor Ernst Lohrmann; the alterations included the addition of zinc statues of the 12 Apostles on the roof. This is the largest uniform collection of zinc sculptures in the world.
Today the cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki. Annually more than 350,000 people visit the church, some of them to attend religious events, but most are tourists. The church is in regular use for both worship services and special events such as weddings. The crypt was renovated in the 1980s by architects Vilhelm Helander and Juha Leiviskä for use for exhibitions and church functions. Helander was also responsible for the conservation repairs to the cathedral in the late 1990s.
Before the cathedral was built, a smaller church called the Church of Ulrika Eleanora stood in its place. A facsimile of this church, made entirely from snow, was later constructed on the Senate Square in the early 2000s.
[edit] Trivia
- The cathedral is often used as a symbol of the whole city of Helsinki. In a similar way, the Turku castle often symbolises Turku, the Tammerkoski bridge symbolises Tampere and a large bridge called the Jätkänkynttilä ("Lumberjack's candle") symbolises Rovaniemi.
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