St. Henry's Church

Pyhtää, Finland

The first evidence of Pyhtää as an independent parish dates back to 1380. At that time already the parish had a church, but it is not known where it was situated or what it looked like. Until 1600 Pyhtää included, besides its present area, also half of the present city of Kotka, Ruotsinpyhtää, Elimäki, the western parts of Anjalankoski, and a part of Lapinjärvi.

Dedicated to St. Henry, the church is situated where one of the westernmost branches of the river Kymi meets the ancient Turku-Viipuri coast road.

The building resembles the majority of the Finnish medieval stone churches. Pyhtää church, built about 1460, has retained its original medieval appearance almost untouched. There have been few alterations: the porch was converted into a memorial choir during the latter half of the 18th century, and in connection with repairs in 1907, buttresses were built to support the north wall and the sacristy was fitted with the outer entrance.

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Address

Harjuntie 11, Pyhtää, Finland
See all sites in Pyhtää

Details

Founded: 1460
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: Middle Ages (Finland)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.pyhtaanseurakunta.fi

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Strömfors Ironworks (5,1 km)


Maritime Centre Vellamo (22,2 km)
Loviisa Old Town (17,6 km)
Svartholma Fortress (18,3 km)
Kotka Church (21,9 km)
Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas (22,4 km)
Ruotsinsalmi Sea Fortress (22,5 km)
The Church of St. Michael (28 km)
Loviisa Fortress (17 km)
Elimäki Church (25,9 km)

User Reviews

es ällä (4 years ago)
Upea
Asko Poikkimäki (4 years ago)
Kaunis kivikirkko.
Kari Kangas (4 years ago)
Pyhtään Pyhän henrikin kirkko on hieno, arvokas nähtävyys. Jotta kirkkorakennuksella olisi matkailullista arvoa ja/tai kirkolla arvoa hiljentymispaikkana - mikä lienee sen tärkein tehtävä - olisi suotavaa päästä sinne sisälle. Etenkin kauempaa kirkkoa katsomaan saapuvien olisi hyvä tietää, milloin kirkko on avoinna. Pyhtään vanhalle kirkolle on ilmoitettu aukioloajat sekä seurakunnan sivuilla yhteystiedoissa (sieltä niitä ei tosin heti arvaisi hakea) että kirkon tiekirkkolistalla, ne vahvistaa myös lappu kirkon ovella: avoinna ma-su kello 10-15. Vaan eipä aina ole. Sunnuntaina 24.6. kirkko oli tiukasti suljettu jo kello 14:20. Myöhemmin sitten seurakunnasta kerrottiin, että verkkosivujen kirkollisten ilmoitusten joukossa on tieto kirkon kiinni olemisesta koko juhannusviikonlopun. Sen olisi toki voinut kertoa aukioloaikalistassakin, sieltä tiedon olisi joku voinut jopa löytää. Satunnaisia poikkeuksia lukuun ottamatta voi siis olettaa kirkon olevan auki silloin, kun se luvataan. Seurakunnasta kerrottiin myös, että maksullisen opastuksenkin voi tilata. Puolisen tuntia kestävä opastus maksaa 20 €, mitä itse pidän kohtuullisena (vaikka Espoossa tuomiokirkon vajaan tunnin opastus ei maksakaan mitään...). Seurakunnasta vastattiin nopeasti asiaa koskeneeseen sähköpostiini, mikä kasvatti arvosanaa yhdestä tähdestä peräti neljään, juuri tuon palvelun ja suuren odotusarvon vuoksi. Muokkaan sitten arvosteliua, kun joskus olen päässyt kirkkoon sisäänkin.
Ivan Bendich (4 years ago)
Люблю старые финские кирхи, ничего не могу с собой поделать. Ну вот почему любая церковь не может быть такой же лаконичной?
Михаил Мирошниченко (5 years ago)
Beautiful old church with garden.
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Muslim Era

It has not been determined exactly when a castle or fortress was first built on the hill. The first written documentation referring to a castle at Lorca is of Muslim origin, which in the 9th century, indicates that the city of Lurqa was an important town in the area ruled by Theudimer (Tudmir). During Muslim rule, Lorca Castle was an impregnable fortress and its interior was divided into two sections by the Espaldón Wall. In the western part, there was an area used to protect livestock and grain in times of danger. The eastern part had a neighbourhood called the barrio de Alcalá.

After Reconquista

Lorca was conquered by the Castilian Infante Don Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, in 1244, and the fortress became a key defensive point against the Kingdom of Granada. For 250 years, Lorca Castle was a watchpoint on the border between the Christian kingdom of Murcia and the Muslim state of Granada.

Alfonso X ordered the construction of the towers known as the Alfonsina and Espolón Towers, and strengthened and fixed the walls. Hardly a trace of the Muslim fortress remained due to this reconstruction. Muslim traces remain in the foundation stones and the wall known as the muro del Espaldón.

The Jewish Quarter was found within the alcazaba, the Moorish fortification, separated from the rest of the city by its walls. The physical separation had the purpose of protecting the Jewish people in the town from harm, but also had the result of keeping Christians and Jews separate, with the Christians inhabiting the lower part of town.

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Modern history

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Currently, a parador (luxury hotel) has been built within the castle. As a result, archaeological discoveries have been found, including the Jewish Quarter.

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