Johanneksen Kirkko

Johannes church was the third Lutheran church in Helsinki, and it is still the biggest. It was built in Neo-Gothic style towards the beginning of the 1890s, as the surrounding population had begun to grow. The twin towers are 74 metres in height, so the church has very impressive dimensions. The church has 2,600 seats, so there is plenty of room for big concerts and events as well. The altarpiece shows Saul's conversion and the painting, called A Divine Revelation, is by Eero Jarnefelt, brother-in-law to Jean Sibelius.

The name Johannes (John) surprisingly has its roots in the Finnish ancient era and not in the name of John the Baptist. Johannes church stands on a hill that had for many centuries before been a place for Midsummer bonfires (Midsummer is also "John's Day", Juhannus in Finnish). It is also interesting that the well-known composer Oskar Merikanto worked as an organist in this church.

Services are held every Sunday and religious holiday in Finnish at 10am and Swedish at 12pm. Every year on Easter Thursday Bach's Matthew Passionis played here. Trams 3B and 10 go past.

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• Attraction Type: Religious Buildings

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