Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland

Helsinki has numerous churches, each one playing an important role in the city’s religious history as well as its present-day religious practices.

Among these churches is the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland, said to be the largest Orthodox church in all of Western Europe.

 

Location

Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland is located at Kanavakatu 1, close to the Market Square. It sits atop a hillside on the peninsula of Katajanokka.

Getting There

Getting around Helsinki is fairly easy as the city is well-served by an excellent public transportation system.

One of the most popular means of going around the city is the tram and if you are visiting Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland, take Tram Number 4 which will get you to the nearest point of the cathedral.

You can also take trams 3B and 3T as these go around the city, passing through the most popular landmarks here including the Orthodox Cathedral.

You can also opt to get a taxi for a more private and comfortable means of reaching the cathedral, but be prepared to pay at the very least, 5.10 Euros plus an additional 1.33 Euros per kilometer.

What to See and Do

The façade of the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland takes on the classical Russian-Byzantine architectural style. There are thirteen onion-shaped domes adorning the top of the cathedral, symbolizing the 12 Apostles and Jesus Christ.

Being the largest church of its kind in Western Europe, the imposing structure is both breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

Inside the church, you can see numerous religious icons adorning the walls and the corners of the cathedral. The miraculous icon of Saint Nicolas, the Wonder Maker used to be housed here before it was stolen in 2007.

Elegant chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

Brief History

The Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland was constructed between the years 1862 and 1868. It design was made by a Russian architect by the name of Alexey Gornostaev. Work on the cathedral however, started after the architect’s death.

The cathedral was modeled after a sixteenth century church in Russia.

The bricks used to build the church were brought in from the Bomarsund Fortress located in the Aland islands, as this fortress had already been destroyed, being a casualty of war in the year 1854.

Cost

There is no entry fee to gain access to the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland.

Other Information

The Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in Helsinki – Finland is open from Monday to Friday; from 9:30 in the morning up to 4 in the afternoon. Saturdays, it is open from 9:30 in the morning up to 2 in the afternoon and on Sundays, from 12 noon up to 3 in the afternoon.

Between the months of October to April the following year, the cathedral is closed on Mondays.