Religious, Spiritual sights in Lakeland & The East
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Lutheran Church
When the Swedes took the area they sought to convert the Orthodox population by building the gigantic Lutheran Church in 1796. It’s also known as the Church of a Hundred Angels for its stunning paintings completed in 1832 by Samuel Elmgren, which with their vivid images of faith would have done much to sway illiterate locals to the Western faith.
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Pyhän Elian Kirkko
Pyhän Elian Kirkko is the large and beautiful wooden Orthodox church, 1km west of the village centre, towards Ilomantsinjärvi. The kalmisto (graveyard) sign near the church will lead you to the old graveyard at the waterfront. It is a peaceful place, where old trees give shade to a few graves.
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Lutheran Church
Dating from 1896, the massive brick Lutheran Church is the largest in North Karelia, with around 2300 seats. You’ll know it by its florid cross. Inside there are several models of Nurmes’ previous wooden churches that burnt down, hence earning this part of town the name Ash Village.
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Kolmen Ristin Kirkko
Kolmen Ristin Kirkko in Vuoksenniska was designed in 1957 by Alvar Aalto; its clean white lines and soaring narrow tower are typical of the man. As an interesting detail, only two of the 103 windows of the church are identical.
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Orthodox Church of St Nicholas
Joensuu’s most intriguing church is the wooden Orthodox Church of St Nicholas, built in 1887 with icons painted in St Petersburg during the late 1880s. There are services at 6pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.
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Lappee Church
In the centre of town, the Lappee Church is a lovely wooden church (1794) built to an unusual 'double cruciform' floor plan. It's barely on speaking terms with its belltower, situated across the park and housing a café.
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Orthodox Tsasouna
An Orthodox Tsasouna stands behind the Matelin museoaitta, a tiny museum commemorating female rune singer Mateli Kuivalatar, renowned in the 19th century for her renditions of the Kanteletar epic.
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Lintula Convent
Finland’s only Orthodox convent, Lintula is very quiet. It’s serene and that is well worth the short detour, and it’s only open to visitors outside of summer by appointment.
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Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church is Finland’s oldest, completed in 1785 by Russian soldiers. It features a glittering iconostasis and other saintly portraits.
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