Finland is shown in green on the map above.
The Christian faith spread to eastern Finland from Novgorod in the 12th century through the activities of monks and traders, but the real religious centres for the region were the monasteries, two of which were founded on islands in Lake Ladoga.
During the 17th century, the Orthodox were severely persecuted by the Protestants and many of them had to flee from the country, which forever diminished the Orthodox presence in Finland. However, the Orthodox Church has a legal position as a national church in the country, along with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
Photo above: A monk at the Monastery of New Valaamo in Finland. Monks dedicate their lives to prayer and service.
Photo on the right: an Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland. |
Did you know?
The Orthodox Church of Finland is self-governing (autonomous) under the Ecumenical Patriachate of Constantinople, (the city now called Istanbul in Turkey - where the original Christian confession of Faith was proclaimed in 325 and 381).
Apostolic roots. Apostolic faith - unchanged. Apostolic worship - "on earth as it is in heaven..." |