Savonlinna Cathedral

Savonlinna, Finland

The people of Savonlinna had to go to the Sääminki church when they didn't have their own church. In 1850 governor Aleksander Thesleff gave order to build a church in Savonniemi. The actual construction began in 1874 and was completed in 1878. The church was designed by architect Axel Hampus Dahlström in the Gothic Revival style and it has room for 1000 people.

In 1896 the new diocese of Savonlinna was founded and the Savonlinna church became a cathedral. The first bishop was Gustaf Johansson. In 1925 the bishop's seat was moved to Vyborg, but the church still retained "cathedral" as its name.

During the Winter War in 1 May 1940 Savonlinna was bombed and the church was damaged. It was restored in 1947–1948 by architect Bertel Liljeqvist. In 1990–1991 it was renovated by Ansu Ånström.

References:

Comments

Your name


Address

Sotilaspojankatu 7, Savonlinna, Finland
See all sites in Savonlinna

Details

Founded: 1874-1878
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: Russian Grand Duchy (Finland)

More Information

visitsavonlinna.fi
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Olavinlinna (1,3 km)
The Savonlinna Provincial Museum (1,1 km)
Pikkukirkko (0,6 km)


Kerimäki Church (21,9 km)
Orivirran Saarto (36,9 km)

User Reviews

Teemu Tuiskuvaara (3 years ago)
Ulkoa vaikuttavan näköinen valaistuksessaan talvi pimeällä. Joulujumalanpalvelus liturgialtaan todella mielenkiintoinen.
Marju Immonen (3 years ago)
Rauhoittava paikka. Kaunis kirkko.
riitta miettinen (3 years ago)
Kokemisen arvoonen upea.kirkko !
Heidi Ansalammi (3 years ago)
Mukava peruskirkko. Konsertit ihania. Paikoitus todella huono.
Marko M (3 years ago)
Väärä päivä, vuorokaudenaika ja vuodenaika (jos on Tiekirkko), joten sisälle ei päässyt, mutta ulkoisesti arvioiden varsin hieno ja hyvä esimerkki goottilaistyylisestä kirkosta. Näyttää kirkolta, ei miltään kenkälaatikolta.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

History of Guernsey & Jersey
Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Étienne

The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

The two monasteries were finally donated by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as penalty for their marriage against the Pope"s ruling. William was buried here; Matilda was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. Unfortunately William"s original tombstone of black marble, the same kind as Matilda"s in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed by the Calvinist iconoclasts in the 16th century and his bones scattered.

As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt. The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings in 1944, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.