Rovaniemi Church
Rovaniemen kirkko
Religion
AffiliationEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusChurch (building)
Location
LocationRovaniemi, Finland
Geographic coordinates66°29′40.81″N 025°43′43.75″E / 66.4946694°N 25.7288194°E / 66.4946694; 25.7288194
Architecture
Architect(s)Bertel Liljequist
StyleReconstruction
Completed1950
Specifications
Capacity850
MaterialsStone

The Rovaniemi Church (Finnish: Rovaniemen kirkko) is a church located in the city center of Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland. The 850-seat church, designed by architect Bertel Liljequist, was completed in 1950.[1] The earlier church building, completed in 1817, was burnt down by the Nazis during the Lapland War on October 16, 1944.[2][3]

The specialties of the church include a Christian cross on the roof, which is lit with a red neon light (only visible at night). The choice of color once sparked widespread debate.[4] The color of the cross is red because of its symbolic meaning: "Bloody Cross on top of the Promissory Note."[5] During 2005, Rovaniemi Church was renovated. The most visible change was the renewal of the water cover made copper.[6]

The large altar fresco (14 meters high and 11 meters wide) was made by Professor Lennart Segerstråle in 1951. The work is called Elämän lähde ("The Source of Life").[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Outo paikka: Harva on nähnyt Rovaniemen kirkontornin maisemat - katso video - Lapin Kansa (in Finnish)
  2. ↑ Lapin sodassa poltettuja ja säästyneitä rakennuksia - Kotimaa (in Finnish)
  3. ↑ Suomalaisjoukkoja oli Rovaniemellä vastassa kammottava näky 1944 – "Palava helvetti ja tuomiopäivän kaaos" - Ilta-Sanomat
  4. ↑ Punainen risti puhuttaa - Kaleva; from Kirjastolinkit.ouka.fi (in Finnish)
  5. ↑ Markku Seppänen: Virsin lauluin psalttarein: Krankin sukupiirin elämää ja hengellisen musiikin perintöä, p. 126. 2021. ISBN 9789529370191.
  6. ↑ Armas Herran kirkot (in Finnish)
  7. ↑ Rovaniemen kaupunki: Julkiset taideteokset Rovaniemellä (in Finnish)
  8. ↑ Pekka Rönkkö: Noitarummusta kirkkauden kruunuun. Lapin kirkkomaalauksia keskiajalta nykypäivään, p. 197-201. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Pohjoinen, 1985. ISBN 951-749-005-4. (in Finnish)
  9. ↑ Juha Vartiainen: Alttaritauluja Suomen kirkoista, p. 119–120. 2008. ISBN 9789522200068. (in Finnish)
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