Uspenski Cathedral, Helsinki
The Uspenski Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral on the Katajanokka peninsula in Helsinki. It is the largest Orthodox church in western Europe.
History
Uspenski Cathedral was built between 1862 and 1868. It was designed by Aleksei Gornostajev and based on a 16th-century church near Moscow. The bricks came from the Bomarsund fortress in Aland, which had been destroyed during the Crimean War in 1854.
Today, the cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Helsinki in the Finnish Orthodox Church. The Finnish Orthodox Church has about 60,000 members and is part of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate based in Constantinople.
What to See
The exterior of Uspenski Cathedral is not elaborately decorated, but is nevertheless striking with its deep-red brick walls and green-and-gold onion domes.
There are 13 onion domes in all, representing Christ and the twelve apostles.
As the largest Orthodox church in western Europe, the cathedral also impresses by its sheer size. The central dome is held aloft by four monolithic granite pillars.
Inside, the cathedral houses a rich display of icons and other typical Orthodox decorations, including an impressive array of chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling. One of the icons is believed to work miracles.
If you want to see the inside, be sure to check the hours (below) and plan ahead - it closes early each day and is closed on Mondays in the winter. Fine views can be had of the marketplace and the city from the cathedral's lofty position.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Uspenski Cathedral; Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral; Russian Cathedral; Uspenskin katedraali; Cathedral of the Dormition |
| Type of site: | Finnish Orthodox cathedral (originally Russian Orthodox) |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | 1862-1868 |
| Address: | Unioninkatu 39 A 19, 00170 Helsinki, Finland |
| Location: | Katajanokka, Helsinki, Finland |
| Tram: | 4 |
| Phone: | 634267 |
| Website: | http://www.ort.fi |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 9:30-4, Sat 9:30-2, Sun noon-3; closed Mondays from Oct to April |
| Cost: | Free |
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Scandanavia 7.
- Official Website of the Finnish Orthodox Church
- Uspenskin katedraali - Muuka.com
- Uspenski-Kathedrale (Helsinki) - German Wikipedia
