Suomenlinna Church: A Beacon of History and Faith

The Suomenlinna Church, located on the island of Iso Mustasaari within the Suomenlinna sea fortress, boasts a rich history and unique dual purpose. Initially constructed in 1854 as an Eastern Orthodox garrison church for the Russian troops stationed at Suomenlinna, it was dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky. The church was designed by Konstantin Thon, a prominent architect of Imperial Russia. Following Finland's independence in 1917, the church was converted into an Evangelical Lutheran church in 1918. As a symbol of this transition, the four smaller towers' onion domes were removed. In 1928, architect Einar Sjöström won a competition to redesign the church, incorporating a more Western design. The renovated church was reconsecrated in April 1929. Since 1929, the church's central dome has served as a lighthouse, making it one of the few churches in the world with this dual function. The lighthouse's signal flashes the Morse code for the letter 'H', representing Helsinki. The church's bell, cast in Moscow in 1885, is the largest in Finland. The church is surrounded by a fence made of cannons and chains dating back to the 1870s. Today, the Suomenlinna Church belongs to the parish of the Helsinki Cathedral.